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THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK. 















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“The now smiling vagabond stood bowing and scraping in the mid- 
dle of the sunbaked road." — See page 14 . 


THE VILLAGE 

OF 

HIDE AND SEEK 


BY 

BINGHAM THOBURN WILSON 

AUTHOR OF 

“ YE MOUNTAINEER,” “ THE TALE OF THE PHANTOM YACHT,” ETC. 


ILLUSTRATIONS BV 

W. HERBERT DUNTON 



NEW YORK 

CONSOLIDATED RETAIL BOOKSELLERS 



* 


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OCT 21 1905 


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Copyrighted, 1905, by 

CONSOLIDATED RETAIL BOOKSELLERS 

REGISTERED AT STATIONERS* HALL, LONDON 

{A It Rights Reserved) 

Published, October, 1905. 

(Printed in the United States of America], 


l 



BeDfcatfon 


TO THE CHILDREN OF POVERTY AND RAGS. TO THE 
HOUSEHOLD OF SORROW AND BURDENSOME CARE. 
TO THE DIVES IN THE SHADOW OF THE DARK GAUNT 
FORM OF WOE. TO THOSE WHOSE EARS HAVE BEEN 
ATTUNED TO THE HOEEOW, MOCKING VOICE OF 
GRIEF. TO THE HUMBEEST OF THE HUMBEE, THE 
POOR ; THE VERY POOR. AND MAY THIS STORY 
PROVE TO BE STAREIGHT IF NOT SUNSHINE. 

VERY RESPECTFUEEY, 

THE AUTHOR. 



* 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. “ His Highness,” the Vagabond n 

II. Aunt Twaddles 19 

III. The Path up the Cliff 33 

IV. The Cave in the Mountain 53 

V. The Village of Hide and Seek 75 

VI. The Queen of the Dolls 99 

VII. Kimbo, the Giant 1 15 

VIII. The Island of Dreams 135 

IX. Soda Water Fountain 157 

X. In the Village of Hide and Seek 171 
























LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Frontispiece. 

“The now smiling vagabond stood bowing and scraping in the 
middle of the sun-baked road.” 


PAGE 


“Almost dumb with surprise, the children turned about to gaze on 

the world that lay far beneath them ” 56 

“ All the odd, ill-fitting garments . . . were changed into raiments 

of rich lace and gold ” no 

“ He seemed to be leaping over great fields fully a mile at a stride” 116 

“The children stopped to look back upon the spot from which 

they had just come ” 124 

“ Looking upward they were amazed to behold the open sky filled 

with sweet-voiced angels ” 140 

“ He gave the old harp a nimble sweep with his dexterous fingers 

that filled the air with enchanting music” 150 

“ Perhaps you have noticed by my long hair and studious demeanor 

that I am both a gentleman and a scholar” 176 


THE VILLAGE OF 


HIDE AND SEEK 


CHAPTER I 

“his highness,” the vagabond 

On a bright sunny day in the middle of the 
month of August, a merry group of gaily dressed 
children were romping upon the green lawn of a 
country place, that, from its well kept and cleanly 
surroundings, could not have been mistaken for 
any other than the home of some prosperous and 
perhaps retired gentleman of wealth and refine- 
ment. 

The old-fashioned stone house, with its wide 
porch and heavily carved wooden columns green* 


ii 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


coated with climbing ivy, rose amid the stately 
trees of the lawn, until it seemed lost in a bower 
of shadowy foliage. The low, thatch-roofed out- 
buildings and long lines of far-reaching fence, 
carefully coated with fresh whitewash, stood 
glistening in the sunlight, quite in harmony with 
the polished marble window sills of the great stone 
mansion. 

Standing in the very centre of the scene, like 
some still lingering remnant of the long gone and 
almost forgotten past, arose the tall, rustic arm of 
an old-fashioned well-sweep, that raised or lowered 
a moss-covered, old oaken bucket, filled to overflow- 
ing and dripping wet with cool, clear water, not 
unfrequently visited by this gamboling group of 
merry children both during and after their play. 

As the children rested for a moment beneath 
the sheltering arms of an old oak tree, they were 
much surprised to behold the form of a wandering 


12 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

vagabond ambling along tbe dusty road. His 
bat was well drawn down over bis eyes to avoid 
tbe glaring rays of tbe mid-day sun. Over bis 
shoulder and made fast to tbe end of a crooked 
stick, that might have answered as well for a de- 
fence as for a staff, bung bis sum total of earthly 
possessions, tied carefully into a small bundle and 
as carefully bid from view within tbe folds of a red 
bandanna handkerchief. 

A passing glance only was needed to tell that 
tbe wanderer was weary; and as bis eyes, glis- 
tening with envy, beheld tbe cool shade of tbe 
trees, and tbe still more inviting bucket above tbe 
well, that, half-filled and leaking, bung suspended 
in mid-air, be baited bis weary pace in tbe road 
near tbe gate and beckoned tbe children to ap- 
proach. 

No second invitation was needed. Tbe boys, 
more daring and venturesome, bounded toward 


13 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

him with a merry shout and were soon standing on 
the edge of the lawn near the wanderer ; but the 
little girls, like so many timid fawns of the forest, 
with a feeling more of fear than of curiosity, 
lingered tardily behind ; and it was some time be- 
fore they joined their less cautious companions. 

He was a curious looking, but quite jolly vaga- 
bond indeed ; and although his face was begrimed 
and smeared with mingled perspiration and dust, 
his eyes shone with a merry, good-natured twinkle, 
as he doffed his well worn and dusty black hat and 
bowed with an air of politeness, quite unknown to 
the common everyday tramp of the highways of 
the world. 

One of the children laughingly exclaimed : 

“ Where are you going ? ” 

And another : “ Where did you come from ? ” 

And still a third : “ Where is your home ? ” 

And so on, until the now smiling vagabond, 


14 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


waiting for a chance to reply, stood bowing and 
scraping in the middle of the sun-baked road as he 
calmly received volley after volley of almost un- 
answerable questions. 

“ Well! ” he exclaimed at last, as the children 
became suddenly silent, “ You ask me where I am 
from and where I am going, so now let me say : 
just at present I am from everywhere in general 
and bound nowhere in particular ! ” 

And he began pounding the dust from his body 
and limbs with his old hat, as if wishing to make 
himself look presentable, even if out in the middle 
of a hot, dusty roadway ; and looking up with a 
longing glance, he asked permission to obtain a 
drink of water from the well on the lawn. 

The big gate was still closed to “ His Most Royal 
Highness,” and as the mere thought of his enter- 
ing the lawn dawned upon the minds of the now 
silent children, they drew back in affright and 
15 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

with solemn faces ; nor would they think of 
granting the stranger’s request until finally one 
little fellow called his companions together for a 
moment, as he almost pleadingly said : 

“It is wrong to deny a poor man a drink of 
water. He is weary and perhaps far from home, 
while God gives us the water so freely. Beside, 
he cannot take the shade of these trees away with 
him when he goes, so, while he rests on the lawn, 
I will bring him a drink from the well myself.” 

And with a light foot, but a much lighter heart, 
the boy bounded away in haste, while the weary 
“ Knight of the Road ” entered the shadow of a big 
maple tree on the lawn and stood waiting for him 
to return. 

As he gulped down the cool, refreshing water in 
' a manner as though famished, he blinked his 
bright sparkling eyes in evidence of much relish ; 
then casting a thankful glance upon the face of 
16 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

his new found friend, he turned toward him with a 
smile as he said : 

“ My little lad, for your kind act to a weary and 
thirsty man let me say ; if you will gather your 
little friends about me under the shade of this tree, 
I will tell you an interesting story, which, if you 
will listen carefully, may give you something of 
my past wanderings as well as an answer to some 
of the questions you asked of me while I was out 
in the road.” 

Without a word of reply, the children, anxious 
to know what the stranger’s story might be, sank 
here and there upon the grass, as the vagabond 
thus began his strange tale. 


17 






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CHAPTER II 


“aunt twaddles ” 

“ As I paused in the middle of the road near the 
gate,” began the vagabond, “this manly little 
fellow who so kindly brought me a drink from the 
well, wanted to know where I came from. In 
answer to his question let me say : I am, as yon 
see, a friendless vagabond, wandering hither and 
thither over the face of the earth. But think not 
that I never had a home ; for although I may not 
look it, I once had a dear mother, just as each one 
of you has, who, when I was a baby kissed me and 
rocked me to sleep every night with a sweet lullaby. 
But that was a long time ago, and it is little wonder 
that, as you now gaze upon me, yon are anxious to 
know who I am and whence I came. 


*9 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ Now I might be an earthly prince in disguise 
for aught that you know, though I’m not. Yet 
right here let me say, I am the son of a King, for 
we are all the children of God and our earthly 
end is alike in this dust that some of you children 
at first so pretended to scorn as you saw it all over 
my clothes. So from this on, remember, we are 
only of the dust ; and the babies of satins and 
silks, all humbled at last, shall lie down and sleep 
side by side with the children of tatters and rags. 

“ Be that as it may ; I was born in the village of 
Harpers Ferry on the banks of the fair Shenandoah 
River, where lofty mountains rise and overhang 
with rugged cliffs that seem about to fall into the 
deep valley below ; and where, in order to get into 
the town at all, the trains pass through a dark 
tunnel in the mountains, and leaping with shrill 
whistle across the long span of a great steel bridge, 
slow down and stop at a quaint, stone station, so 


20 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

closely surrounded by tall mountains on all sides 
that a traveller might think himself at the very 
end of the world. 

“ It is here that the wild Shenandoah empties 
its foaming waters into the Potomac River, (for be 
it remembered that the two streams were joined in 
Holy wedlock by the Indians long, long ago), 
and mingling their currents in loving embrace, 
they leap onward through a pass in the moun- 
tains and together journey joyfully eastward 
toward the sea. 

“ As the stranger stands upon the platform at 
the little stone station, and gazes far across the 
Shenandoah River, he cannot help noticing a 
dark path, or roadway, leading straight up the 
face of a steep cliff ; and long will he wonder 
how it could ever be possible to climb that path, 
for it stands almost straight up and down. 

“ Right here let me say there are but three 


2i 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

persons on earth who can truthfully boast of 
having once included that path as a part of their 
journey; while strangest of all is the fact that 
one of these was an old woman, so awkward and 
fat that she looked to be almost helpless, while 
the other two, at the time of ascent, were mere 
children. 

“ For many years prior to the time of my story, 
(how long, nobody ever could tell), there dwelt an 
old woman somewhere up in these mountains, 
and unless something has happened to her re- 
cently she is living there still. 

“ She was a strange looking creature and from 
her jolly, good nature and laughing, happy 
way, had grown in weight until she must have 
tipped the scales at fully five hundred pounds. 

“ She did not look in the least like a mountain 
climber, nor in fact hardly able to mount a short 
flight of stairs ; yet she was a quite frequent 


22 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


wanderer up and down the opposite bank of the 
river, where most of her time was spent in gather- 
ing wild herbs on the rough side of the mountain, 
or along the fertile bed of the Shenandoah. 

“ When the great bag, which she always carried 
slung over her shoulder, was filled with herbs 
almost to bursting, she would start at the bottom 
of this high cliff, and, aided by the scrubby bushes 
that grew from the dark fissures in the mountain’s 
time scarred face, she would manage in some mys- 
terious way to drag her full five hundred weight 
with its load to the top, and then disappear in the 
mountain wood-land above. 

“ It was not only a tiresome, but likewise a 
dangerous journey, for there were few places 
where she could catch her toes in the steep rock ; 
and as she climbed slowly upward, and with much 
difficulty felt for each foothold, her great body 
swayed and staggered upon the face of the cliff, 


23 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


while she puffed and blew from her toil so loudly 
that her heavy breathing could plainly be heard 
far across in the village of Harpers Ferry. 

“ Never did she go up the cliff but that great 
boulders would break loose under her ponderous 
tread, and tumbling headlong with mighty bound, 
would dash down the steep mountain-side and 
land with a roaring crash in the bed of the 
river below, where to this day they may be seen 
choking the tide of the stream in a great rocky 
mass. 

“ In many ways this strange woman was more 
odd than she looked. She was not very high, but 
so terribly spread out that she was equally as tall 
when lying down as when standing up ; and if, 
like a turtle, she might have drawn in her feet 
and her head, she could have rolled about over 
the ground like a great ball — but of course she 
was not a turtle. 


24 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ The garments, too, that she wore, both in 
make and material, were strange to look upon. 
Her skirt, which could never have been made for 
another, was fully a foot too long. It entirely 
concealed her feet, which could not have been 
small, and so caused her to stumble and trip that 
often indeed have I wondered how she could get 
along with her big bag of herbs over a level road, 
much less up a path on the face of the cliff, that 
even the bravest of hunters and mountain-men 
dared not attempt to climb. Thus she went 
stumbling along in her own silent, industrious 
way. 

“ And now comes the strangest thing of all 
about this wonderful, fat woman. 

11 Many are the grown people that have passed 
her while busy at her labor of herb gathering, yet 
not for a moment would she stop work to talk 
with any of them. If they smiled, she might 
^5 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

look up and smile in reply ; but if they asked her 
a question she would answer it with such an 
uncivil grunt that they were glad to pass rapidly 
along on their way. 

“But should she happen to meet with a group 
of gay children, this strange, fat woman was sure 
to drop her big bag of herbs, and pausing for a 
long jolly chat, would unbosom her goodness of 
heart and draw from her ponderous pockets hand- 
ful after handful of candy and pop-corn balls, 
taffy and chocolate drops, the like of which for 
sweetness and flavor, no mortal man had ever 
made. 

“Nor was she in the least inclined to be stingy 
for she would give the children as much of her 
sweets as they could eat and then bid them good- 
bye with a kiss and a parting blessing. For so 
many years had she thus kindly treated the 
children that they watched for her coming and 
26 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

going day after day and were ever on the lookout 
to greet her, with tears of joy in their eyes. 

“ The name of this fat woman was ‘ Twaddles ; ’ 
and as nobody thereabout knew just whether she 
was a Miss or a Mrs., the children had nicknamed 
her i Auntie/ although that might have been as 
big a mistake as either of the other two names. 
But it sounded motherly and sweet to her ears, 
and, as its mention was sure to bring forth an 
abundance of bon-bons and candies, all of the 
grown people as well as the children called her 
‘ Aunt Twaddles.’ 

“ Where did she come from? you ask. Well, 
for many years nobody ever could tell. Some 
claimed that she lived in a nest with the eagles 
far off in the mountains. Others, that she dwelt 
alone with some half grown cubs in the heart of 
a dark bear den, where the foot of a hunter had 
never passed ; while some even vowed that at 


27 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

night all the humming birds kept guard while 
she slept far back in a cave in the rocks. 

“ Old Nimrod, the hunter, declared, (and he had 
spent his whole life in the mountains), that she 
was ‘ Queen of the Witches ’ and lived in the dark 
hollow of a great tree, far down in a deep rocky 
glen, where panthers and owls with wildcats and 
rattlesnakes dwell. Once when he saw her, he 
said she was leading a pack of fierce wolves along 
on the side of the mountain ; and again she was 
holding a live panther close to her breast and 
rocking it to sleep in her arms. 

“ At any rate, wherever she lived, so marvelous 
indeed was she skilled in the art of making candy, 
that her praises were sung by the children far and 
near; and strangest of all was the fact that, 
should you once eat a little bite of it, the sweet- 
ness and flavor it left in your mouth lasted for 
over a week, while its memory lasted a lifetime. 

28 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


Years might pass silently away and the children 
who had once tasted of * Aunt Twaddles’ ’ candy 
grow np and be married, yet they could never for- 
get it, though they tried ; while stranger still was 
the fact that a mere recollection was sure to bring 
tears to the eyes, nor could one cease crying until 
he went home and forgot about it. 

“ In proof of this part of my tale let me say ; I 
remember one day as I stood quite hidden from 
view amid the green alder-berry bushes that grew 
on the bank of the river, I beheld ‘ Aunt Twaddles 9 
coming slowly down the edge of the stream. Her 
big bag was heavily laden with herbs, and, as the 
sun was quite high in the heavens, she paused in 
the shade of a tree near the foot of the steep path 

for a moment of rest before starting up the 

♦ 

dangerous face of the cliff, for she needed all of 
her strength to go up. 

“ Just as she had comfortably seated herself on 


29 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


a log, I noticed a little old man tottering across 
the long foot-bridge that led over from the village. 
He was hurrying along, rapping his feet and his 
staff on the boards as fast as his seventy-odd years 
would allow. His long, snow-white hair waved on 
the midsummer breeze, while the long flaps of his 
old-fashioned coat were dangling about his thin, 
wabbly legs in a manner too funny for anything. 

“ As he drew near, I noticed that there were 
real tears in his eyes, and his withered old cheeks 
were much stained where they had fallen. Care- 
fully I watched him as he drew near, and, with a 
feeling of deepest respect bowed low as he said in 
a tremulous, squeaky voice : 

“ ‘ Good morning, Aunt Twaddles. Would you 
mind giving an old, life-long friend another bit of 
your candy ? 1 

“ In a second ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ arose. 

“ ‘ No sir ! * she cried, with a frown, * I gave you 


30 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


plenty of it, Sir, when you were a good little boy. 
Tobacco seems to be your favorite candy now 
from the appearance of your stained white beard, 
so you get none of mine.’ 

“And she began to empty her pockets that 
were filled with sweet, juicy bon-bons, over the 
brink and down into the stream ; and shouldering 
her big bag of herbs, prepared to start up the face 
of the cliff. The little old man went tottering 
back over the foot-bridge to the village; nor is 
there any doubt that he went home and cried over 
the thought of her candy and kept crying until 
he forgot about it. 

“ And now,” said the vagabond, “ lest the 
thought of * Aunt Twaddles’ ’ candy brings tears to 
my eyes, for I have eaten some of it myself, let us 
pause for a moment while we more comfortably 
seat ourselves before I proceed with the story.” 

The almost vertical rays of the mid-day sun 
3i 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


were pouring a merciless fire upon a portion of 
the charmed circle and the story-teller with his 
group of merry children was not slow in selecting 
a new spot further in under the protecting bran- 
ches of the tree. The children had been so ab- 
sorbed in the wonderful tale of the wanderer that 
they had failed to notice the intense heat until, 
down the faces of some of the smaller ones, drops 
of perspiration were flowing like tears. 

Amid a clamorous shout of “ Go on ! Go on ! ” 
uttered in concert by the delighted children, it was 
thus the wanderer continued. 


32 


CHAPTER III 


THE PATH UP THE CLIFF 

“ In the Village of Harpers Ferry, there stood for 
many years an old Inn ; — so old that no one knew 
its age. It was built in the days before saw-mills 
were known, when all the lumber was either split 
out or sawed out by hand. The weather-stained 
boards on its rickety sides were covered with moss 
from the eaves down to the ground, while the 
shingles of the roof were so twisted and warped 
out of place that they afforded little or no protec- 
tion to the dwellers within. 

“ Travel was light in Harpers Ferry during the 
time of which I speak, and the lack of good busi- 
ness, together with his miserly nature, kept the 
33 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

old Inn-keeper peevish and cross ; so much so that 
he was despised by everyone about the village. 

“ He was a wheezy little old man with a wooden 
leg, the rough oaken stump of which, with its 
shafts and mysterious harness, was a source of 
much wonder as well as merriment to the children 
of the neighborhood ; while the little old man 
himself seemed to be just withering away and dry- 
ing up on his feet, instead of growing weak and 
infirm, as is the usual course with most things 
that are old. 

“ Two bright little orphan grandchildren an- 
swered his cross, squeaky call, and as their father 
had been dead ever since they were babies, and 
their dear mother had died some two y>ears before, 
they lived with the cross old man at the Inn, 
where they received a scolding or whipping much 
oftener than they did a good dinner. Never was 
he heard to speak a kind word to either of them. 

34 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ Through the early part of every spring this 
old Inn-keeper would suffer dreadfully from 
asthma, which is a kind of disease that chokes 
people just as if they were strangling all the time. 
During these bad spells of smothering he would 
drive the poor children off into the mountains to 
gather wild pennyroyal, which he burned under a 
funnel and inhaled the smoke to relieve his wheez- 
ing during the night, for without it he could not 
sleep. Many indeed were the whippings they had 
received at the hands of the cruel old Inn-keeper 
just because they failed to find enough of the herb 
in the mountain to suit his suffering needs. 

“ The bright sun was warm on this particular 
spring morning although the frost had not yet 
departed from some of the deep mountain glens. 
The old Inn-keeper called the two children from 
their play in the village street and bade them 
hasten away over the river to search for penny- 
35 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


royal. He did not forget to threaten them with 
an angry frown before they left, as he loudly 
vowed that he expected to spend a bad night with 
the asthma, and solemnly declared that, should 
they return without a goodly supply of penny- 
royal, he would whip them both soundly, deny 
them their suppers and make them sleep without 
covers on the floor of the attic, — a place that 
swarmed with both rats and mice. 

“With this terrible threat still ringing in their 
ears, the two children hastened away toward the 
river and with much fear in their hearts started 
across the long foot-bridge toward the mountains. 

“ Arthur, the boy, was eleven years old, while 
his little sister Maud, a beautiful but shy little 
thing, had hardly turned nine. They journeyed 
along hand in hand and when midway the stream, 
they looked back just as the old Inn-keeper 
entered the Inn, then paused for a moment to 
36 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


glance over the wide flowing stream and look 
down into its clear waters for bass, — which, I 
might add, was their principal sport on a hot 
summer day. 

“ Far up the tide, a fish-hawk sailed silently 
round and round over the foamy water, search- 
ing the more shallow places with a keen, piercing 
eye, and looking no doubt for its dinner. A long- 
necked blue heron, awakened by the loud, clat- 
tering footsteps and shouting voices of the two 
children, arose from beneath a dark tangle of 
water-elms that grew near the farther end of the 
foot-bridge, and, with lazy wings, and dragging its 
slim legs over the water as if it were too much 
trouble to lift them up under its body, it went on 
up the edge of the stream and disappeared from 
sight along the dark shore. High over all . and 
circling with mysterious ease, a bald eagle held 
stately repose in the sky. 

37 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ ‘ Come, Maudie/ exclaimed little Arthur at 
last. ‘ Let us make haste, for the journey may be 
tiresome and long.’ And hand in hand they hast- 
ened across the bridge. 

u As they came to the edge of the woods they 
began their search for pennyroyal. This herb 
was not plentiful so early in the spring and the 
side of the mountain was steep and rough. 

“ Bright, fancy-formed ferns were growing here 
and there from beneath the* edge of the big rocks, 
and johnny-jump-ups were lifting their tiny blue 
heads aloft to the fresh morning breeze, wherever 
an occasional dead tree allowed the rays of the sun 
to fall unshadowed upon the rich soil below. All 
through the woodland they noticed the poison-oak 
vine, as it slowly began its long summer climb up 
the trunks of the stately oak trees. 

" 1 Alas ! ’ thought the two children as they 
jonrneyed along, ‘ there is no pennyroyal.’ 

38 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ Then looking up with affright at the sound of 
a familiar voice, they were greatly surprised, for 
there stood ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ before them. 

“ At once the object of their journey was for- 
gotten and they buried their grief for a time as the 
kind-hearted old lady drew forth a handful of her 
sweet candy, and all three sank upon a green, 
moss-covered mound for a rest and a feast and a 
chat. 

“ When they were comfortably seated, * Aunt 
Twaddles’ glanced carefully about her, and, as 
she measured the moss-covered mound with one 
sweep of the eye, she suddenly exclaimed : 

“ 1 Perhaps this mound is the grave of some long 
dead but great Indian chief ; 9 and while the two 
children sat gazing about, she continued : ( But he 
can’t scalp us now, children ! He can’t scalp us 
now ! ’ 

“And with a loud, harsh laugh that rang 


39 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


through the woodland, she leaned her fat back 
against the trunk of a tall tree that towered ever 
so high above them. 

“ ‘ And where are yon going, my dears ? ’ at 
last she inquired. 

After pennyroyal for grandfather/ replied 
little Arthur, and his words were followed by a 
deep sigh. 

il i Have yon found any?’ she asked, as her 
fat face lighted up with a broad smile that 
drove all thoughts of sorrow and care from their 
minds. 

“ * Not yet, Ma’am ! ’ exclaimed little Maud. ‘ I 
don’t think it has come up out of the ground, for 
we have searched so far very carefully.’ 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ laughed outright. 1 Oh yes, 
it has, dear,’ she replied. ‘ Pennyroyal is the 
second flavoring herb of the spring-time.’ 

“ And she reached her hand down deep into her 


40 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


herb bag and drew forth quite a quantity of fresh 
plucked pennyroyal and laid it before their envious 
gaze on the ground. 

“ 1 And what is the first flavoring herb, Aunt 
Twaddles ? ’ inquired little Arthur, as he glanced 
up from the pennyroyal. 

“ ‘ Mint, darling,’ she replied with a laugh, and 
continued : ‘ On the south side of the mountain, 
where the springs moisten and soften the soil, it 
lifts its green head out of the earth as soon as the 
frost leaves the ground.’ 

11 She lowered her hand to her big pocket as she 
ceased speaking and drew from its mighty depth 
two great, round pop-corn balls, that were dripping 
with honey and of the deep crimson color of ripe 
cherries. Placing one in the hand of each of the 
children, she glanced down upon them with a 
happy smile, as she exclaimed : 

“ ‘ There, darlings. These are flavored with 


4i 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

mint that I gathered only yesterday. Taste them 
and see what you think of the flavor.’ 

“ The two children were delighted with the 
sweet gift, but though it pleased them greatly, 
they could not keep their envious eyes from the 
pennyroyal, for they knew that the time thus 
spent in delay meant a terrible whipping and a 
much more-to-be-dreaded night with the rats and 
mice in the attic. 

“ Seeming to notice the troubled look on their 
little faces, 1 Aunt Twaddles ’ exclaimed : 

“ ‘ Now, darlings, I know these mountains as well 
as you know yonder streets of the village ; and if 
you will take a short journey with me, I will gather 
you enough pennyroyal to last the wheezy, old Inn- 
keeper for the rest of his life.’ And without wait- 
ing for them to reply, she gathered her big bag of 
herbs into her arms and arose, as if ready to start. 

“ Little Arthur looked up, amazed at her words, 


42 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

while Maud could scarcely believe her ears, so 
great was the promise of her dear, old, kind-hearted 
friend. Well did they recall the long, sorrowful 
journeys they had often made into the mountains 
in a vain search for the scarce herb; — journeys 
that were followed by terrible beatings. The mere 
thought of gathering enough pennyroyal to last 
their cruel old grandfather for the rest of his life 
made their little hearts fairly leap with joy.” 

“ * Come, Maudie,’ cried Arthur, as he leaped to 
his feet, ‘ let us go.’ 

“Ina second the children were standing beside 
1 Aunt Twaddles ’ who, after shouldering her big 
bag of herbs, led the way. 

“ They journeyed along down the bank of the 
river past the end of the foot-bridge that led from 
the village, when, pausing at the foot of the dan- 
gerous path on the face of the cliff, i Aunt Twad- 
dles 1 rested her herb-bag on the ground for a mo- 
43 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


ment, and, glancing first at the tall mountain and 
then at the children, she exclaimed, with a some- 
what doubtful shake of her head : 

“ ( It’s a pretty stiff climb, children ! It’s a 
pretty stiff climb ! But come on, let’s go up ! ” 

“ Had i Aunt Twaddles ’ asked the two children 
to rise like two eagles and soar high over the tops 
of the mountains, it would not have seemed to them 
more of a task than to walk up the bald face of 
that cliff ; and for a long time they stood gazing 
upon ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ as if they thought she had 
gone completely out of her head.” 

“ Little Arthur suddenly exclaimed : 

“ 1 Why, Aunt Twaddles, we could never go up 
there.’ 

u As the children glanced at her face, they no- 
ticed a strange look in her eyes that startled them. 
Was it the look of an evil one seeking to lure two 
innocent children to certain death amid the cruel 


44 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

rocks of the mountain ? Or was it the look of tke 
witch that Old Nimrod, the hunter, had so often 
told them about as they sat at his feet by the fire 
in the old inn ? That look that charmed wildcats 
and panthers and snakes into doing her will ? 

“ Without further delay she shouted with a 
frown. 

“ 1 Oh yes, you can, children. You shall go up 
with me. How often have I gone up this path with 
double your weight as a load ! ’ 

“ And gathering the thick twill of her skirt into 
a fold, she placed it tightly within the clasp of 
Arthur’s hands, at the same time saying : 

“ ‘ Come, Maudie, take hold by the side of your 
brother and hold fast.’ 

“ And before the two frightened children could 
realize what they had done, they were high up 
on the side of the cliff and did not dare to let 

go” 


45 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ When they had climbed somewhat higher than 
the church spire that towered aloft over the village 
across the river, a fisherman, going to raise his 
nets, beheld them ; and raising a shout of alarm, 
it was not long before the street in the village was 
filled with excited people. Men yelled with hoarse 
voices, pleading with ‘ Aunt Twaddles’ to come 
down, but their voices sounded faintly upon the 
ears of the children, who hung dangling from the 
end of ‘ Aunt Twaddles’ ’ skirt, high up in the air. 

“ The old, one-legged Inn-keeper hastened away, 
pounding his peg-leg on the boards of the bridge, 
in a vain effort to get over to where his squeaky 
voice might be heard ; but without pausing to heed 
the tumult below, * Aunt Twaddles ’ continued on 
up the face of the cliff, constantly warning the two 
children to ‘ Hold fast ! ’ 

“ Old Jonas, the fisherman, with dripping fish 
net gathered under his arms, ran with all his might 
46 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


over the long foot-bridge and down the opposite 
bank, where strong men, with pale faces, aided him 
in stretching it at the base of the cliff, to catch, as 
he said, the lifeless and mangled bodies of the two 
children in case they should fall. 

“ Old Nimrod, the hunter, came tottering out of 
the bar-room at the inn, his long trusty rifle in 
hand, renewing his vow that c Aunt Twaddles ’ was 
a witch, as he took rest on the rail of the bridge, 
firmly resolved to shoot her in case the children 
should let go. With eagle eye he gazed along the 
polished barrel of his gun and covered the sight- 
sickening climb with an unfaltering aim. 

“ Out in the village street, women stood crying 
and wringing their hands, while strong men turned 
white at the sight of the fat woman, swaying and 
wabbling from side to side in her effort to get up 
the face of the mountain. 

“ From the loud sound of her puffing and blow- 


47 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


ing, she seemed almost exhausted. Now she would 
stumble and totter as if about to fall, when, sud- 
denly grasping with desperate hand a stout, scrubby 
bush, or a ledge of the broken rock, she would 
steady herself for a time and by the merest chance 
gain a fortunate foothold. 

“ Even the dogs began howling everywhere 
throughout the village. Every house stood wide- 
open and deserted. Someone entered the old village 
church and began slowly tolling the bell, the sound 
of which seemed to add a doleful appeal to Heaven 
for the safety and care of the children. 

“ Slower and slower, weaker and weaker, yet 
onward and upward, ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ toiled on the 
face of the cliff, when suddenly one loud moan of 
horror swept from the parched throats of the mul- 
titude as ‘ Aunt Twaddles,’ by accident, stepped on 
the end of her long skirt and reeling from the face 
of the rock, started to fall. Men turned from the 
48 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


horrible sight and sank to their knees, while over 
in the village women fell helpless into each other’s 
arms for support and turned from the sickening 
scene. 

“ The crack of a rifle rang out on the air from 
the end of the foot-bridge and a puff of blue dust 
arose from the face of the cliff just over ‘ Aunt 
Twaddles’ ’ head, where the bullet had shattered 
the rock. 

“ Loud shouted the voice of Old Jonas, the fish- 
erman, * Stretch the net tight, men ! Stretch the 
net tight ! They are falling ! ’ While strong 
limbs steadied themselves and firm hands drew 
tight on the meshes of stout twine. 

“ But Fate favors the brave who have presence 
of mind. * Aunt Twaddles ’ laid firm hold on the 
arm of a deep-rooted bush, and, as she drew her 
swaying form close to the mountain, the frightened 
children, swung far out in mid air, like the pen- 
49 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

dulum of a clock, and then heavily back against the 
cliff. Still they held firmly on to her dress. 

“ Louder and louder the people now renewed 
their cries for ‘ Aunt Twaddles y to come down ; 
but to attempt to descend in her weary condition 
meant certain death to all. 

“ Onward and upward she continued ; and while 
the people below were suffering the anguish of sus- 
pense, with one last weary reach she laid firm hold 
on an overhanging arm of a dogwood tree that 
hung from above and, with a deep sigh of relief, 
drew both herself and the children to safety on top 
of the cliff. 

“ A murmur of joy went up from the dry, hoarse 
throats of the men at the base of the mountain, 
while women sank fainting far across in the streets 
of the village. Strong men broke down and wept 
under the spell of excitement. Old Nimrod, the 
hunter, ceased ramming the charge in his gun, and 
50 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


Jonas, the fisherman, shouldered his fish net; but 
he trembled so from excitement that he could not 
carry it home. The slow, solemn toll of the church 
bell turned into one long, loud ring of joy. 

“ A wild shout from high up in the air echoed 
and re-echoed over the broad valley below. Far up 
on the side of the mountain, the people beheld 
‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ wildly waving her sun-bonnet 
and lifting the children into plain view. In a 
moment she lowered them again in the shade of a 
tree and then sank for a rest at their side. 

“ As the children sat gazing about on the beau- 
tiful scene below, they could plainly see the bent 
form of the old inn-keeper. He was rattling his 
peg-leg back over the bridge, and as he hobbled 
along he was shaking his head with an air of 
anxiety, thinking no doubt about the safety of the 
children, left to the mercy of a witch on the side of 
the mountain. 




THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

“ * Mercy ! ’ exclaimed ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ with a 
deep, weary sigh, ( we will take a good rest before 
we go on, for that was a hard climb/ 

“ And now while 1 Aunt Twaddles * and the two 
children are resting under the shade of a tree on 
the side of the mountain, we will rest for a moment, 
and I will thank you for a fresh drink of water 
before I go on with my story ” 


52 


CHAPTER IV 


THE CAVE IN THE MOUNTAIN 

As the “ Prince of the Highway ” finished the 
first part of his story and asked for a fresh drink 
of water before continuing, there was a wild, scam- 
pering foot-race between the two largest boys as 
they hastened away to the well, straining every 
muscle and nerve in the struggle to see who might 
have the pleasure of honoring the wanderer with 
a drink. 

All the children that were seated upon the grass 
about the Vagabond, began working closer and 
closer toward him, forgetful now of the cool and 
almost unkind manner in which they had turned a 
deaf ear to his request for a drink when first he 
paused in the centre of the hot, dusty road. The 


53 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

little girls took off their bright colored sun-bonnets 
in order that they might not lose a single word that 
fell from the lips of the dust-covered story-teller. 

“ Mercy ! ” exclaimed one of the boys, as if just 
awakening from the scene that fancy had painted 
in his little brain. “ Mercy ! ” again he exclaimed. 
“ What a terrible climb ! Isn’t it a wonder that 
the two children could hold on so long? ” 

As the words fell from the lips of the little 
speaker, the assembled children seemed to breathe 
a sigh of relief, for they well remembered that the 
two children were safe on the side of the mountain. 

Back over the lawn came the two boys bearing 
the water ; and after the thirsty Vagabond had re- 
freshed himself, he blinked his little black eyes and 
smacked his dry lips with evident delight, as thus 
he continued his story : 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ and the children, by this 
time, were well rested ; and rising from the ground 
54 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


she took them by the hands and went slowly up 
through the mountain woodland. 

“ The effort was not nearly so tiresome as the 
long struggle on the face of the cliff had been, and 
for some time they made rapid progress ; for the 
mountain rose in a gentle slope and the way was 
closely shaded by tall trees, that some weeks be- 
fore had unfolded their bright foliage to the blue 
sky of spring. 

“ If nothing greater was to be expected, the 
journey was a delight in itself ; and it was fully an 
hour before they paused in a merry group on the 
very top of the mountain. 

“ As their feet reached the level soil of the 
mountain crown, ( Aunt Twaddles ’ dropped her 
big bag of herbs for a moment of rest, and turning 
to the children, she exclaimed : 

“ ‘ There, darlings, at last ! Now gaze about you 
on the great underworld and see if this isn’t worth 
55 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


all the trouble and toil that we had on the face of 
the cliff ? ’ 

“ Almost dumb with surprise, the children turned 
about to gaze upon the world that lay far beneath 
them. 

“ For some time they stood looking upon famil- 
iar scenes, dwarfed now by the distance. The two 
children, both seeming to think of this fact, were 
wondering in their little minds how they would 
ever get down the side of the mountain, for they 
were really so high that it made them quite dizzy 
to look below. 

“ Way down in the deep valley, like the houses 
of so many pygmies, nestled the village of Harpers 
Ferry, where the foot-bridge appeared like a narrow 
strand of dark tape, stretching across a snow-white 
stream. 

“ Far to the westward, the long winding path 
of the Potomac River glistened in the bright sun- 

56 



“Almost dumb with surprise, the children turned about to gaze upon 
the world that lay far beneath them '' 1 



THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

light like a spotless streamer of snow-white ribbon, 
sweeping with many a graceful curve far away into 
a narrow trail. 

“ Nearer by, dashing with loud, rumbling roar 
against the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains on 
the very top of which they were standing, the 
foaming, frolicking Shenandoah could be seen here 
and there, leaping between the tall rocky cliffs with 
merry, gamboling shout that arose like a song to 
their ears. 

“ Green wheat-fields, like so many squares of 
bright velvet carpet that good farmers had laid out 
in the sunlight to air, were plainly in view up the 
broad valley ; and the blossoming peach-trees on 
the far distant hillsides, that stood bathing in the 
full glory of the day, looked to them like so many 
tiny rose bushes just bursting into full bloom. 

“Nearer by on the mountain ridge, a stray 
mocking-bird sat in a tree top, testing his ruffled 
57 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

throat by bursting forth in a wild, beautiful chant, 
but changing the notes every moment or so to 
mock the sweet song of some one of his feathered 
acquaintances. 

“ Now sweet and low he was singing the song of 
the linnet and calling them all about him from 
their busy labor of nest building. Now he was 
causing the blue bird to flutter forth in jealous 
anger by softly coaxing away its mate. Then, 
uttering a loud shrill whistle, he sank into silence, 
waiting a reply to his eloquent call from some 
greatly deceived * Bob White ’ that was eating its 
dinner far off in a bramble of mountain shrubs. 

“ Now sweet and low, he sang a song all his 
own; so sweet that the linnet and thrush grew 
silent ; so tremulous and low that it called back 
his faithless mate from its wanderings. Then 
growing bold and defiant, with frantic effort, he 
carolled forth music wild and shrill, as if chal- 
58 


the village of hide and seek 

lenging the rest of the song birds to a relentless 
vocal war. 

“ A gray squirrel barked High up in the top of 
tbe tall chestnut tree under which they were stand- 
ing, and far down in a deep, cool hollow below, 
they heard a plumed pheasant drumming his battle 
tune unchallenged upon a log. 

“ ‘ Come, children/ exclaimed ‘ Aunt Twaddles/ 
i let us go ! y 

“ They followed the ridge of the mountain for 
some time ; but the journey was made so delightful 
and charming by the wonderful scenes beneath 
them that the two children did not seem to notice 
just how far they had travelled, although they had 
gone a great distance and everything about and 
beneath them seemed new and changed. 

“ Suddenly they turned to the left from the 
mountain ridge and passed down into a dark ravine, 
the sides of which were so very high that ‘ Aunt 
59 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

Twaddles ’ said the sun never shone anywhere 
within its dark bounds, not even during the noon 
hours of midsummer. 

“ It was a dark and gloomy place indeed, filled 
with great pitfalls of slimy, green liquid, from 
which arose an unpleasant odor ; while there was 
barely enough light for them to see that the steep 
sides of the ravine were covered with a damp 
mould. 

“With a feeling of relief they emerged from 
this horrible place to find themselves entering a 
beautiful and heavily wooded glen. 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ informed them that the 
gloomy ravine through which they just passed 
was called ‘ The Valley of Dry Bones/ for the rea- 
son, as she said, that the bird or animal once enter- 
ing it scarcely ever came out alive , and that what 
few did escape death were mere skeletons. 

“ * And how is it that we are not skeletons, Aunt 


60 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


Twaddles, now that we have passed through the 
valley ?’ exclaimed Arthur, with an inquiring 
glance. 

“ ‘ Because we have used the power of reason, 
my dear, which no bird or animal except man pos- 
sesses,’ she replied. Then, pausing to glance back, 
she continued : ( Knowing the dangers of the val- 
ley, I used the power of reason and laid my course. 
If you do not use the power of reason, my boy, you 
will often find yourself in the Valley of Dry Bones 
as you journey along through life.’ 

“ ‘ Arthur would have questioned 1 Aunt Twad- 
dles’ further, but they were now in a beautiful 
glen ; and as they journeyed along he turned about 
to behold the lovely creations of nature that lay on 
every hand. 

“The glen was not very wide, and the leafy 
branches of the tall, overhanging trees were so 
mingled together that the bright sunlight could 
61 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


not break through, while the beautiful wild flow- 
ers seemed striving to outdo each other in spread- 
ing their perfume about on the balmy air. Yet 
search as they might, there was not a spray of pen- 
nyroyal anywhere to be seen. 

“ A second glance over the glen proved it to be a 
most picturesque spot indeed ; for the rocks that 
arose here and there from the flower-covered soil 
were not dark and weather-stained like those along 
the Shenandoah River, and the wild ferns and per- 
fumed flowers tempted the observing children to 
stay their steps. 

“ 1 Now/ exclaimed ‘ Aunt Twaddles/ as they 
walked slowly along, ‘ this beautiful glen, my dar- 
lings, is called Temporary Delight, which means 
short pleasures ; for, as you see, we are near its 
end. 7 

“ Looking up, the children were surprised to 
behold in front of them a mountain of solid stone. 


the village of hide and seek 


“ They had not met with a greater surprise dur- 
ing their entire journey than this towering cliff of 
rock that now barred their way ; and little Maud, 
suddenly hushed, dropped her flowers upon the 
ground and turned with a troubled look to 1 Aunt 
Twaddles’ as she said in a trembling voice : 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles, the flowers are beautiful, but, 
see, they fade as quickly as they are plucked, and 
are not worth carrying. Besides, I do not see any 
pennyroyal. How shall we ever get beyond this 
great mountain ? ’ 

“ 4 Aunt Twaddles ’ was standing on the top of 
a rock, the summit of which she had reached with 
a mighty bound ; and as she noticed the troubled 
look on the faces of the children, she laughed until 
her fat sides fairly shook, when she said to little 
Maud in reply : 

u 4 The pleasures of life, like these flowers, are 
never very lasting, my dear. Never mind, you 

63 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

shall have your pennyroyal. Just learn to wait 
and be patient, for all things require time.’ 

“She made an effort to whistle, but her fat 
cheeks refused to make other than a low hissing 
sound. 

“ It was enough. There was an answering 
warble from far off in the woodland, then a sudden 
flutter of swift crimson wings among the near-by 
branches. In another second a beautiful Red Bird 
came sailing down the dark glen and, greatly to 
the surprise of the two children, lighted upon one 
of i Aunt Twaddles’ ’ shoulders where it began to 
sing a most beautiful song. 

“ In the excitement of the moment, Arthur dropped 
the handful of withered flowers he had gathered 
for his little sister, and with hands half raised, 
shouted for her to turn quickly that she might 
behold the wonderful bird ; but the startling cry 
of the boy was hushed as he beheld the Red Bird 
64 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


drop from its slender claw a bright golden key 
into the outstretched hand of 1 Aunt Twaddles’, and 
then sail away into the woodland. 

“ 1 Aunt Twaddles ’ stepped toward the cliff and, 
turning to the surprised children, she waved the 
golden key in the air, as she said in her usually 
kind way. 

“ ( Now, children, listen. I know the old one- 
legged miser who keeps the Inn at the Ferry and 
have known him ever since he was an ill-tem- 
pered boy who respected not the will of his 
parents. I knew your brave father, too, let me 
say, many years before he marched gallantly away 
to the war from which he never returned. Often 
have I given your sweet mother a bite of my candy, 
long, long before she went to live with the angels. 
And now, for the love of yourselves, as well as for 
the memory and respect that I bear your dear, 
dead parents, I am going to give you that moment 

65 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

of peace and joy that the cross old miser so be- 
grudges you down at the Inn.’ 

“ With that she faced the mountain and placed 
the golden key in a deep crevice of the rock, at the 
same time repeating some strange and mysterious 
words. 

“ There was a deep, rumbling roar within, that 
sounded like the angry roll of distant thunder and 
greatly frightened the children ; when, with a tear- 
ing crash, the tall mountain parted at the centre. 

“ Pieces of bursting rock went flying through 
the air in every direction. 

“ Great columns of smoke rose upward and 
spread over the entire sky like a mighty cloud. 

“ The severed cliff rolled away to the side and 
there before them stood the entrance to a deep, 
dark cave that looked gloomy and filled with 
danger. 

“ At first, little Arthur and Maud drew back in 


66 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


affright and stood ready to fly up the glen for their 
lives ; but 1 Aunt Twaddles/ turning toward them, 
exclaimed in calm, easy tones : 

“ ‘ Fear not, my children ! Fear not, for I am 
your friend ! ’ 

“ Then without another word she entered the 
mouth of the dark cave and at the chiming sound 
of a deep-toned bell, the cavern became filled in a 
second with a million bright and glowing lights, 
the like of which no mortal eye had ever beheld. 

“The two little children, now overcome with 
amazement, stood for the moment speechless and 
motionless in the presence of the strange scene 
that lay before them. 

“ The great flood of light that poured from the 
cavern illumined the scene with a strange beauty, 
that, falling upon the clear, crystal-like rocks of 
the glen, seemed to make them glow with spark- 
ling radiance like so many diamonds ; and the 
67 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

wild flowers of the woodland and the foliage of the 
trees hung trembling beneath the magic glare 
that the flood of fire cast upon them from the 
mouth of the enchanted cave. 

“ Both Arthur and Maud seemed enchanted too. 
They could have remained upon the spot perfectly 
contented, for a long time, had not ‘ Aunt Twad- 
dles * broken the spell by calling them. Tak- 
ing each by the hand, she led them into the 
cavern. 

“ Instead of the rough, rude, unpolished walls of 
dark stone that the two children had expected 
to find, they were surprised to see the beautiful 
crystallized formations that hung everywhere from 
the roof of the cavern. The whole place seemed to 
be one living blaze of light. The floor was as 
smooth as a piece of glass and so polished that it 
might have answered the purpose of a mirror. 

“ They stood gazing about the great cave for 


68 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

some time, when ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ hurried them 
on their journey, exclaiming: 

“ ‘ Come, children, for we have far to go ! ’ 

“ They walked rapidly on through the cavern 
for some distance, not failing, however, to take 
time to explore its most interesting parts. 

“ It was not long before they came to a broad 
river that, with its swift current, dashed through 
the great cave with mighty roar. 1 Aunt Twaddles,’ 
realizing that in order to proceed upon their jour- 
ney they had to cross this stream in some manner, 
paused with the two children on the shore. They 
stood at the edge of the water, gazing far out over 
the tide and wondering what they were going to 
do, when, at a wave of command from ( Aunt 
Twaddles,’ a water sprite rose slowly from the tide 
and in another instant stood bowing and scraping 
before them. 

“ He was a most curious-looking creature indeed ; 

69 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


and, although bearing little or no resemblance to 
the people of the earth, he was not at all bad to 
look upon. 

“ His face beamed constantly with a broad smile, 
that spread his wide mouth with its thin lips almost 
from ear to ear ; while, in addition to a good pair 
of arms, and hands with long, bony but webbed 
fingers, he had, on either side of his shoulder 
blades, broad fins like a fish, which, no doubt, he 
used in his progress through the water. 

“ His head ran up to a very sharp point on the 
top — not a bad feature at all for diving, as it was 
sharp like a boat. His eyes, instead of setting 
crosswise in his head, as the eyes of most every- 
thing do, set straight up and down with an eye- 
brow running along on either side of his nose, the 
sight of which caused little Arthur almost to laugh 
in his face. 

“ As he thus stood smiling and bowing before 


70 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

them, ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ turned to the two children 
and said : 

“ ‘ I left a boat here on this side of the river but 
this mischievous creature has taken it away. We 
had him sent to this underground river because 
one night he cut off the beautiful hair of a mer- 
maid and made it into a wig for himself. I wish 
you could have seen him when he appeared the 
next day with his false golden locks and dark skin. 
He really looked as ridiculous as some of those 
women who have yellow hair and black eyebrows. 

“ With that she made a movement of the hand 
and the sprite leaped straight upward into the air, 
almost as high as the roof of the cavern ; then, turn- 
ing a somersault in mid air, he landed head first in 
the water with a splash and was gone. 

“ It was not long before a big boat came swiftly 
across the stream. No one was in it, no one was 
pushing it, and no one was pulling it, so far as any- 
7i 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


one could see. It came rapidly on and landed 
with great care directly in front of ‘ Aunt Twad- 
dles ’ and the children, and . without visible aid, 
bore them swiftly across the stream and landed 
them safely on the other side of the river, where 
they resumed their journey. 

“ As they walked slowly along under the glar- 
ing light, the children beheld long rows of shelves 
covering one entire side of the cavern. When 
Arthur inquired of ( Aunt Twaddles ’ what they 
might be, they paused for a moment while she in- 
formed them that this great cavern was the Store 
Hoiise for the seeds of all the flowers and fruits 
that grew in 1 Beauty Valley.’ 

“ Although Arthur wanted to inquire further 
about ( Beauty Valley,’ for he had never heard its 
name mentioned before, his inquisitive nature was 
silenced ; for, scarcely had ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ 
finished telling about the wonderful places to be 
72 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

found in the enchanted cave, when they came to 
its end and found themselves stopped by the pres- 
ence of a great stone door. 

“For a moment, ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ stood before 
this door, waving her fat arms in a strange, frantic 
manner, as if she had entirely gone out of her 
mind. In a low tone she uttered many strange 
words, which the children did not understand ; and 
you can imagine their surprise as they beheld the 
stone door move quickly but silently to one side, 
and a flood of golden sunlight sweep into the cave. 

“ They were now very anxious indeed to know 
what new wonder might lie before them. 

“ As the stone door rolled away, the enchanted 
cavern again became dark and the children wanted 
to hasten out into the sunshine at once ; but the 
voice and hand of 1 Aunt Twaddles ’ caused them 
to stay their steps, as in earnest tones she ex- 
claimed : 


73 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ ‘Wait, darlings ! We must wait until the Red 
Bird comes back with a message before we dare 
step upon this sacred soil.’ 

“ And before she had finished speaking, a beau- 
tiful Red Bird flew into the month of the cavern 
and lighted upon ‘ Aunt Twaddles’ ’ shoulder. She 
whispered some strange words into its ear and it 
darted rapidly away. 

“ And now while ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ and the 
children are waiting the return of the magical Red 
Bird in the mouth of the great cave, we will wait 
here for a moment of rest while the boys bring 
some fresh water from the well, for I know some 
of you are quite thirsty.” 

And the Vagabond, wiping the perspiration from 
his dusty brow, sank into silence and began fan- 
ning himself with his tattered black hat. 


74 


CHAPTER V 


the vintage of hide and seek 

As the Vagabond ceased speaking, a murmur 
passed completely around the party, and it was 
easily seen that the children were delighted with 
the story so far as it had gone. 

Three of the boys arose, and bidding their near- 
by companions hold their places in the charmed 
circle, dashed away to the well for water. The 
rest of the children closed in about the now smiling 
wanderer and sat silently gazing upon him, think- 
ing, no doubt, how fortunate they were in having 
given him a drink of water when he first paused in 
the roadway. 

By this time they were almost willing to give 
him the well itself if he desired it. 


75 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


The three boys hastened back with the water, 
and the Vagabond, having passed it around to the 
children, dampened his brow with the remainder, 
and wiping it dry on his coat sleeve, waited for the 
boys to be seated. 

A robin came from far across the field and lighted 
in the top of the tree under which they were seated, 
as if it, too, wanted to hear a part of the story. 
Turning his eye for a second upon the red-breasted 
songster, the Vagabond continued his tale. 

“ A little time soon passes away like the song of 
that robin above ns ; and it was not long before the 
Red Bird returned with a noisy flutter of its crim- 
son wings, while the clang of deep-toned bells 
sounded within the cavern. As the great stone 
door moved slowly into place, ‘ Aunt Twaddles y 
and the children stepped from the month of the 
cave with a merry bound into the sunlight. 

“ Before them lay a broad, beautiful, green valley, 

76 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


that, at a first glance, seemed to be shut in by tall 
mountains on all sides ; while in the centre of a 
blue-grass lawn rose a village of tiny play-houses, 
each as perfectly and as carefully built as the home 
of some boasted citizen of wealth and fame. 

“ Each house was ornamented with a vine-cov- 
ered porch and green window shutters, while 
through the open windows and doorways floated a 
balmy, midsummer atmosphere, laden with mingled 
perfume of wild honeysuckle, orange blossoms and 
roses, — so charming that I, a poor vagabond, am at 
a loss for suitable words to describe it. 

“ The village itself was laid out in wide, well- 
paved streets with a great public square in the 
centre, where arose a most beautiful building of 
white marble, ornamented here and there with 
figures of doll babies carved from the solid stone. 

“ The streets stretched away from the public 
square in every direction for considerably more 
77 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


than a mile and so charmed and bewildered were 
the children by this unexpected sight that, for a 
long time, they stood looking at it, fairly trem- 
bling with delight. 

“ From the side of a cliff that formed part of a 
mountain near where they were standing, a great 
rock projected far over their heads like a rugged 
shelf, to which a winding staircase of pure onyx 
gave easy access. A golden throne stood far out 
on this rocky shelf from which all parts of the vil- 
lage, as well as of the valley, could be seen with a 
sweeping glance. 

“ Before the children had time to make any in- 
quiry, 4 Aunt Twaddles ’ took them by their hands 
and led them up this glistening stairway to the 
golden throne, where they stood looking about 
over the wonderful surroundings. 

“ 4 Make yourselves at home/ said 4 Aunt Twad- 
dles/ as she sank back with a sigh of relief into a 
78 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

golden chair ; but when little Maud turned to 
thank her politely, she found her little heart so full 
of gratitude and joy she was unable to speak a 
single word. 

“ Down in the village of tiny play-houses, bright, 
happy-faced dolls were playing upon the clean 
streets and out on the lawn of the public square ; 
while hundreds of dolls were streaming in and out 
of the beautiful building around which lay the 
miniature village. 

“They were laughing and talking, chatting and 
romping, until the air fairly echoed with the sound 
of their merry voices. Many, separated from the 
rest in groups, were playing all sorts of games ; 
and so firmly were the bright eyes of the children 
riveted upon the gamboling, playful beauties that 
nothing seemed able to draw their attention away. 

“ Over the village hung an unclouded arch of 
bright, blue sky, while scattered everywhere on the 
79 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


green lay toys and playthings of every known 
kind that might either amuse or instruct the doll 
babies. 

“ Some dolls were busily engaged in running 
toy steam engines. Others were spinning their 
tops on the streets of the village. Still others were 
sending up crimson and yellow and blue balloons 
and watching them pass out of sight or burst in 
mid-air. 

“ Off in a vacant place a number of boy dolls 
were flying their kites, and others were playing 
baseball and tennis ; while marbles in millions lay 
scattered all over the ground. Little Arthur, eye- 
ing them enviously, turned to his sister and said : 

“ ‘ Mercy ! Wouldn’t I like to have some of 
those beautiful toys down in Harpers Ferry.’ 

“ Maud’s only reply to her delighted brother was 
a long-drawn sigh, on the very breath of which she 
exclaimed : 


80 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ ‘ Oh, Arthur ! Look at the beautiful dolls ! ’ 

“ For a long time the children watched the dolls 
as they romped upon the clean streets and green 
playgrounds. Finally, little Maud looked up at 

‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ and inquired with a serious air 
and softened voice : 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles, is this Heaven ?” 

" A sudden smile spread over ‘ Aunt Twaddles’ ’ 
big fat face. Leaning forward toward the edge of 
the golden throne, she placed her head between the 
two children, and pointing to the village with a 
clumsy, awkward hand, she said : 

“ 1 This beautiful spot, my dear children, is the 
Village of Hide and Seek. Yon might truthfully 
call it a heaven for the dolls, for they never have 
any trouble or sorrow here.’ 

“ Little Maud breathed a deep sigh as she turned 
again to her friend and exclaimed in breathless 
surprise : 


81 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“‘The Village of Hide and Seek! What a 
beautiful place! And I never heard of it be- 
fore ! J 

“ She sank into silence when she saw a little 
doll bowing very politely, as it introduced one 
little doll to another whom they happened to meet 
on a side street of the village. 

“ The question asked by his little sister and so 
beautifully answered by ‘ Aunt Twaddles/ paved 
the way for Arthur to ask some questions himself. 
Turning to ‘ Aunt Twaddles * he said: 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles, what is that beautiful white 
building with the tower of gold standing in the 
very centre of the public square ? See ! The dolls 
are hurrying to it from every direction ! * 

“ When the boy had finished speaking, % Aunt 
Twaddles } took one sweeping glance over the vil- 
lage and replied : 

“ ‘ That fine building, my darlings, is the 
82 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

Temple of Music. When the clock in its tower 
strikes twelve all the dolls will come out of the 
Temple, and, gathering on the green about thf 
band stand, they will all begin to sing.’ 

u Arthur and Maud glanced away toward the 
clock that stood just beneath the golden dome in the 
tower of the Temple of Music. It was five minutes 
to the hour ; yet the dolls were forsaking their 
playthings all over the village and rapidly hasten- 
ing to the Temple. In a moment more the streets 
of the village were deserted. 

“ There lay their thousands of fine toys with no 
one to molest them. There stood their play-houses 
with wide-open windows and doors and no one to 
touch the fine furniture within ; while beyond lay 
the broad, green, but now idle playground. 

“ The hands of the clock in the tower closed 
slowly, one upon the other, as if in loving em- 
brace. 


83 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ One, two, three, came the sound of the 
chime in the belfry, and thus it continued until 
the last stroke of twelve, when, from the wide- 
open doors of the Temple of Music, the dolls 
filed out into the public square and formed 
themselves in circling rows around the band 
stand. 

“ In glittering raiment of silver and gold lace, 
the Doll-Baby Brass-Band of fully five hundred 
pieces appeared on the scene and took its place in 
the band stand. 

“ A marshall, or music master, climbed to his 
place on a pedestal. 

“ There was a loud tap of his gold baton and the 
instruments went up to the lips of the happy-faced 
players. Then came a firm wave of command; 
and one grand, wild burst of sweet melody fell upon 
the ears of the delighted children, so overcome by 
the sight and sound they had to lean upon the side 

84 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


of the golden throne, as all the dolls in the village 
thus began to sing : 

“ ‘ Oh come to the Village of Hide and Seek, 

For Little Boy Blue, and Little Bo-Peep, 

With Hi-Diddle-Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle, 

Are coming to visit us soon. 

Old Mother Goose will be sweeping the sky, 

And poor Simple Simon will bring us a pie ; 

While Little Jack Horner will milk on the corner 
The Cow that Jumped over the Moon. 

Chorus . 

“ * We are glad that you came, so please tell us your name 
And join us a while in our favorite game. 

You should dwell in the Village of Hide and Seek, 

For it’s Saturday here every Day in the week, — 

It is Saturday, Saturday all of the week. 

“ 1 Now Jack from his Bean Stalk will jump to the ground. 
The Black Birds will leave the King’s pie with a bound. 
While Old Mother Hubbard will open her cupboard 
And search it again for a bone. 

85 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


The Dish will come back with the Spoon that it stole, 
And Dickery Dock bring the mouse from its hole, 
While we will go hunting for Bye Baby Bunting, 

And bring her poor Daddy back home. 

{Chorus.) 

“ * Mary Contrary will pay us a call, 

And fat Humpty Dumpty will tumble and fall, 

While poor Jack and Jill, who fell down the hill, 

Will gambol about on the green. 

The Old Woman and children that lived in a Shoe, 

With the Piper and Tom and the Pig, will come too — - 
And bring Mrs. Jack Sprat with a mouth full of fat, 

And Jack with a mouth full of lean.’ 

( Chorus .) 

“ The singing was over ; and, as the last notes 
died on the air, the children seemed to waken as if 
from a trance, for their eyes had been riveted upon 
the singing dolls in one long, unbroken stare. 

“ ( Such singing ! 9 cried little Maud, as she 
turned toward her still dazed brother. 


86 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ 1 Such a band ! ’ he exclaimed, merrily clapping 
his hands as he glanced from his sister to ‘ Aunt 
Twaddles ; ’ while down in the Village of Hide 
and Seek the dolls were filing back into the 
Temple of Music. 

“ ‘ Look ! ’ exclaimed * Aunt Twaddles/ as she 
pointed away toward the village. ‘ The dolls are 
going back into the Temple to practise and the 
streets of the village will now be deserted for at 
least an hour.’ 

“The happy children turned about just in time 
to see the last of the great army of dolls as they 
entered the doors of the Temple. All now through- 
out the village lay quiet and still. 

“ Off in the far end of the valley flowed a golden 
stream. It was quite wide indeed and its current, 
as yellow as any gold that was ever made into a 
finger ring, rippled at a surprisingly rapid rate. 

“ The banks on this side were clear of bushes 

87 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

and nothing grew to hide any of the swift-flowing 
river from view. On the opposite side, and close 
to the edge of the tide, arose tall buildings sur- 
rounded by huge piles of well-seasoned lumber, 
from which came a buzzing sound as if this might 
be a factory of some kind. 

“ Farther down on the edge of the stream stood 
several long sheds filled with bolts of silk and 
ribbon, satins and laces in great piles without 
number ; while standing well up in the sky and 
high over all, as if suspended from the arched 
heavens above, hung a tall, golden sign with shin- 
ing letters that glistened in the dazzling sun light. 

“ For a long time the strange sign greatly 
puzzled the children, for the letters seemed to be 
put up backward and failed to spell anything in 
particular ; while through the open spaces between 
them they could just see the outlines of a herd of 
reindeer feeding afar in a field of spotless snow. 

88 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ Arthur’s inquisitive nature could permit no 
such puzzle to remain long unsolved, and turning 
to 4 Aunt Twaddles ’ he excitedly asked : 

44 4 Aunt Twaddles, what are those tall buildings 
with the strange sign over them ? ’ 

44 4 Aunt Twaddles ’ looked up with a smile and 
almost shouted with a merry laugh, 4 Strange 
sign ? ’ 44 But as she glanced in the direction of 

the golden stream, she burst forth in an aston- 
ished, serious tone and said : 

44 4 Mercy upon us ! The wind has turned the 
sign completely around.’ 

44 She touched a small pearl button inlaid in 
the arm of her golden chair, and all at once a 
gentle breeze swept down the valley, rustling the 
leaves and tilting the tops of the trees that stood 
in its way. Slowly the great sign turned upon its 
centre with a loud, squeaking sound. 

4 4 Again 4 Aunt Twaddles ’ touched the pearl 
89 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

button. The breeze ceased blowing ; tbe leaves 
became silent. Both Arthur and Maud nearly 
fainted ; for now before their very eyes they read 
in large letters of pure, burnished gold. 

“ ‘ WORK SHOPS AND FACTORIES OF 
SANTA CLAUS. Established A. D. i.’ 

“ No wonder that piles of seasoned lumber 
towered sky high ! No wonder great sheds filled 
with silk lined the bank of the stream ! 

“ There, surely enough, were his reindeer feed- 
ing far off in the snow-fields ; and as the ever 
good-natured Santa Claus himself appeared on 
the roof of his factory and waved them a hearty 
welcome, the children, awed by the sight of this 
great man, sank into the stout arms of ‘Aunt 
Twaddles ’ in a spasm of silent joy. 

“ ‘ Well ! ’ exclaimed ‘ Aunt Twaddles ” after a 
time. ‘ I am so glad you saw Santa, for he seldom 
allows even the dolls to see him except about 
90 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


Christmas time ; and now if you will be patient for 

a moment, we shall see what this button will 

» 

bring forth.’ 

“ She touched a blue button inlaid among many 
in the arm of her golden chair. 

“ Instantly, far off in the mountain, the 
children heard singing. Not the sweet singing of 
childish voices that had come from the multitude 
of dolls in the village, but a wild, musical chant 
that seemed to set the very air in motion and to 
waken a thrill in their hearts such as they had 
never known before. 

“ Closer and closer it came until the merry 
voices could be heard quite plainly. Nearer and 
nearer, until the words fell upon their delighted 
ears, as if spoken by someone upon the very throne 
at their side. 

“ All the dolls came pouring out of the Temple 
of Music through every door of the building, and 
9i 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


forming themselves into line behind a soldierly 
looking little leader, they separated into companies 
and regiments and commenced a marching drill, as 
thus the voices sang : 

“ ‘ The Ice Cream is so delicious, 

And the Cake so soft and fine. 

Come on, Brownies, bring the dishes, 

And Doll Babies fall in line ; 

Tell the boy dolls and the ladies 
To give every tot a spoon, 

And put bibs upon the babies, 

For we’re coming with it soon. 

Down the hill, down the hill. 

Not at all like Jack and Jill, 

For the cream we never spill, 

While our voices loud and shrill 
Echo back from hill to hill.’ 

“ Louder and louder came the chant from the 
mountain ; when lo ! as they gazed in the direction 


92 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


of the music, they were surprised to behold dwarf 
after dwarf marching down the mountain-side, each 
singing with all his might. 

“ At some distance behind them, scurrying helter 
skelter and pell mell, were a group of acrobatic 
brownies, turning somersaults and handsprings, 
flip flaps and cart wheels. Some were sliding 
down the steep on one ear, while others paused for 
a moment to stand straight up in the air on the 
tips of their noses. Some were walking along on 
their hands ; but all moved with merry, joyous 
shout onward toward the village, juggling their 
dishes in the air as they came. 

“ The voices of the singers were in perfect unison, 
from the little pot-bellied brownie in the rear, who 
sang bass, to the flat-faced pygmy in the centre, 
whose high tenor notes echoed and re-echoed 
among the surrounding mountains. Thus gaily 
they came onward, while ‘ Aunt Twaddles } and 


93 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

the children stood watching them from the 
throne. 

“ Down in the Village of Hide and Seek all 
now was silent. The Doll-General had scattered 
his forces and marched them away in a quiet, 
orderly manner to long tables methodically grouped 
on the lawn. All the dolls seemed to be listening 
to the sweet music. 

1 * Louder and louder came the song from the 
band of musical midgets. As they drew nearer, 
Arthur and Maud noticed that each dwarf carried a 
large tray before him and that the trays were 
loaded with good things to eat, piled so high that a 
strong wide strap encircled the neck of each dwarf 
and helped support the tray at its sides. 

“ Down the line the army of tumbling pygmies 
came whirling along, each bearing a tower of snow- 
white china dishes ; and, strange as it may seem, 
not a dish was broken in the rocky journey. 


94 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“The dwarfs were not long in spreading tlieir 
fine feast before the dolls. They had scarcely 
begun to pass around the cake when two sturdy- 
looking dwarfs staggered up the onyx steps of the 
throne, bearing two heavily laden trays. 

“ They were followed by four funny-faced little 
brownies who spread a table before the children, 
and, winking and blinking and smiling, went mer- 
rily about their work. 

“ When the table was all prepared, the dwarfs 
placed before each of the children a big turkey- 
dish piled two feet high with vanilla, strawberry 
and chocolate ice cream. The four brownies then 
stepped between them and sat down a wash tub 
filled with rich chocolate layer cake. Then, with 
a wild shout of hilarious joy, they slid head-first 
down the golden balustrade and landed upon the 
grass, turning somersault after somersault as they 
rolled along on the velvety lawn. 


95 


THE VILLAGE OP HIDE AND SEEK 


“ And such ice cream it was ! You could fairly 
see the rich, yellow cream oozing out of it. Little 
Maud declared, as she looked at her brother with a 
delighted smile, that it surely must have been 
sweetened with honey. 

“ 1 My ! ’ she exclaimed, as she tasted it again 
and again, 1 What glorious cream ! I could die 
eating it, but we must save some to take home.’ 
And she tasted it again, with a loud smack of her 
pretty lips. 

“ ( Aunt Twaddles’ leaned far back in her golden 
chair and, seeming to have overheard little Maud, 
she straightened up as she exclaimed : 

“ Eat plenty of it, my darling ! Eat plenty of 
it! For I have a whole valley full lying over be- 
tween the mountains.’* 

“ Instantly the children, startled at the very 
thought, looked up from their delightful repast. 

“ 1 A whole valley full ! * exclaimed Arthur, but 
96 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


lie could say no more, for lie liad to stop eating to 
think about it. 

“ He picked up a piece of cake and tasted it. 

“ 1 Oh, Maud,’ he cried, * try some quick ! Just 
try some ! This is the grandest cake you ever ate.’ 
And as the children were feasting upon the cake, 
Arthur added in a half whisper, glancing down at 
the wash tub piled full : 

“ ‘ But we must not eat it all, Maud, we must 
save some to take home. 7 

“ 1 Eat plenty, my darlings, eat plenty ! ’ came 
from the lips of 1 Aunt Twaddles.’ ‘ I have a tall 
mountain of it standing just across the valley 
before you.’ 

“ The excited children again looked up from 
their feast and there, sure enough, just across the 
green valley and standing directly in front of 
them, towered a tall golden-colored mountain, that 
reached almost to the sky. 

97 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ And to think that it was all cake ! 

“The children were so surprised they could 
make no reply. Between every mouthful they 
raised their sparkling eyes to look at Cake Moun- 
tain ; and, as there seemed to be no need of saving 
any of the cake or ice cream, they started in to do 
full justice to their repast, for they were truly 
hungry after the long journey from Harpers Ferry 
to the village of Hide and Seek.’ 

“ And now while little Arthur and Maud are 
enjoying themselves, and swallowing great spoon- 
fuls of delicious ice cream, we will pause in the 
story for a moment while some of you swallow 
another drink of that nice cool water, if the boys 
will kindly bring it to us from the well. 


98 


CHAPTER VI 


THE QUEEN OF THE DOLLS 

The hot sun was now standing directly over 
the tops of the trees, and, as the moving shade had 
left the Vagabond with a part of his circle of 
children out in its broiling rays, he was glad in- 
deed to pause with his story while they all rose at 
his request and formed a new circle farther in 
under the sheltering branches. Four of the boys 
leaped from the ground and scampered away to 
bring the water as the Vagabond had requested. 

When the new circle was formed, one of the 
little girls, — a sweet-faced darling of not more 
than five years, pushed herself away from the 
others, and with a feeling of pride, took a seat by 


99 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


the side of the Vagabond, where she sat looking 
into his face quite anxious for him to go on with 
his story. 

The boys were not slow in returning from the 
well ; and in order to assure themselves that the 
water would reach the parched lips of their com- 
panions fresh and cool, they had unbound the old 
oaken bucket from the well pole and were bearing 
it along, dripping full, between them. The water 
soon arrived, and by order of the Vagabond it was 
passed around, he not even forgetting to first 
wait upon the little lady who, so honored, sat 
proudly by his side. When they were all com- 
fortably seated in the shade at last, it was thus he 
continued his interesting tale : 

“ After the two children had eaten all they 
possibly could, just as many of you drank all the 
water you possibly could, the dwarfs and brownies 
came hurrying up the stairs and were not long in 


ioo 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


removing the dishes and table. The brownies, in 
a most winning manner, insisted upon their eating 
more, for there was enough left to feed a dozen 
hungry children, but they were forced to re- 
luctantly decline. 

“ The sun-tanned brownie, who removed the 
dishes from in front of Maud, looked too funny for 
anything with his long-peaked cap set aslant on 
his little round head and roguishly pushed over to 
one side. On his face appeared a broad grin as he 
took the dishes under his arm, and gazing intently 
toward little Maud, said in a shy, half-whisper 
though sufficiently loud for her to hear : “ Pretty 

girl ! ” 

“ Then without waiting a reply, he made one 
wild, hilarious plunge, dishes and all, down the 
balustrade. Nor did he stop when he struck the 
ground, but hurried away toward the mountain, 
halting only for a second when half way up its 


IOI 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


steep side to wave her an affectionate adieu with 
his funny round cap. Thus waving he passed 
from sight under the sheltering trees that grew 
along the mountain way, while the children turned 
to view other parts of the beautiful valley. 

“ ‘ What broad, golden stream is that, Aunt 
Twaddles ? ’ inquired little Arthur, as he pointed 
toward the Work Shops of Santa Claus. 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ glanced up as he spoke and 
looking in the direction of the golden stream, she 
replied. 

“ * That, my darlings, is Taffy River.’ 

“ * Taffy River ! ’ exclaimed the children in one 
breath. Then Arthur, in an excited tone, con- 
tinued : 1 You don’t mean to tell us, Aunt 

Twaddles, that taffy flows in a river like that ! ’ 

“ The children stood anxiously awaiting her 
reply. 

“ ‘ Yes, darlings ! Oh, yes ! } she replied. 


102 


the village oe hide and seek 


‘ Taffy River gets its start up at Honey Springs in 
the lower end of Ice Cream Valley and flows, as 
yon see, down between Ginger Bread Hills and 
Cake Mountain, then on past the Work Shops of 
Santa Claus and empties into Lake Fudge, over 
beyond the Pop Corn Fields where you see the 
reindeer.’ 

“ Arthur was so bewildered he did not know 
what to say; while little Maud stood with her 
mouth open in such a manner that she was quite 
amusing to look upon. Suddenly she exclaimed : 

“ Mercy, Aunt Twaddles ! Is that white field 
pop corn ? Why I thought it was snow ! ’’ 

“ ( No ! no ! my children ! ,} smilingly exclaimed 
the good lady. ‘ That field is all pop corn. You 
see,’ she continued, 1 we never have either rain or 
snow here. Not a particle of water is ever per- 
mitted to fall in this enchanted valley, not even a 
drop of dew ; for if it should, though it was only a 
103 


THE VILLAGE OP HIDE AND SEEK 


tear, something dreadful would surely happen. 
This is not our will, but the will of Heaven ; and 
if you watch, you will see for yourselves.’ 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles’ touched another button in 
the arm of her golden chair and gazed calmly over 
the valley. 

“ While they were waiting for something 
unusual to happen, little Maud roused from a spell 
of deep thought and inquired : 

“ ( Aunt Twaddles, does any of Taffy River ever 
empty into the Shenandoah ? ’ And her eyes 
sparkled at the thought. 

“ ‘ Ah, no, darling,’ replied the generous old 
woman with a knowing smile. * When the chil- 
dren of the earth are good, Santa Claus takes 
most of it on his journey at Christmas time ; but 
when they are naughty it overflows Lake Fudge 
and is wasted among the surrounding hills.’ 

“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles’ seemed somewhat impatient 
104 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


and again pressing the button with a firm hand, 
the children were greatly surprised to behold a 
heavy, dark cloud rising in the west. Leaping 
upward it came flying angrily over the summit 
of Ginger Bread Hills ; then dashing furiously 
against the tall sides of Cake Mountain it rolled 
upward with the sound of deep, muttering thunder 
and spread over the entire sky. 

“ The wind came howling bitterly down the 
beautiful valley with a sudden dash and roar, and 
again turned the sign above the factory of Santa 
Claus out of reasonable position. 

“ Strong trees bent low before the breath of the 
on-coming storm, while the entire end of Beauty 
Valley grew suddenly dark. All the dolls of the 
village hastened into their play houses as fast as 
their little legs could carry them. Santa Claus 
came out of his factory and, arching his eyebrows 
with the palms of his wide-open hands, cast a 


105 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

sweeping glance over the threatening sky and then 
disappeared within. 

“ The doors throughout this great factory were 
suddenly closed. Windows came down with a 
bang. Louder and louder the shrill wind howled 
with a wintry wail and in a few moments a blind- 
ing snowstorm of pop corn buried the distant 
field in a spotless coverlet of white. 

“ 1 Aunt Twaddles 9 touched another button in 
the arm of her chair. Suddenly the clouds melted 
away into a veil of thin mist and again the sun 
poured down its wealth of golden glory. 

“ Up went the windows in the factory of Santa 
Claus. The dolls rushed out of their play houses 
and danced once more upon the green, while a 
mighty host of brownies rushed from the factories 
into the field and began to gather basket after 
basket of pop corn to be made into pop-corn balls 
on the banks of Taffy River. 

106 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ sat back in Her chair, smil- 
ing silently, for she had watched the expressions 
upon the faces of the children during the wonder- 
ful storm. 

“ The scene was indeed most marvelous and it 
was a long time before either of the children ven- 
tured to say a word, for the wonderful workings of 
nature, all under control of the little, shining but- 
tons, mystified them beyond utterance. 

“ Suddenly they beheld a little brownie hurry- 
ing from the factory toward the throne. 1 Aunt 
Twaddles ’ arose when she saw him coming. 

“ * Here comes a messenger/ she said, ‘ and 
something must be wrong.’ 

“ In another second he bounded up the onyx 
steps and soon afterward stood tremblingly before 
them. 

“ * What is it, Spit?’ inquired ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ 
as she gazed down upon him. 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ ‘ Spit/ for that was the name of the brownie, 
looked up into her face as he stood awed by her 
presence. 

“ 1 Twaddles ! ’ he exclaimed, * during the storm 
the lightning struck a wooden doll in the village 
and hurt it mighty badly.’ 

“ As this sad bit of news fell on the ears of 4 Aunt 
Twaddles,’ she dismissed the brownie with a wave 
of her hand and sank back in her chair, and the 
children could see that she was much distressed. 

“ ( Come ! come ! ’ she said to herself at last, 
4 we must not grieve so much over accidents, for 
they are often the will of Heaven.’ 

“ She arose and greeted the children with a glad 
smile. 

“ * Aunt Twaddles,’ inquired Arthur, 4 does 
Santa Claus always live here ? ’ 

“ Instantly, 4 Aunt Twaddles ’ stepped back from 
the children and paused. She stood near the 
108 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


steps of the golden throne, her hand resting upon 
the white polished onyx post that ornamented the 
end of the beautiful balustrade, and turning to 
them, she said : 

“ ‘ Yes, children, Santa Claus always lives here 
and I am his sister.’ 

“ As she spoke the last word, a magical change 
came over her entire features. 

“ Instead of the fat, flabby, emotionless counte- 
nance the children had long known and loved, 
each careworn line withered instantly away, and 
in place came the bloom and smile of eternal 
youth and beauty; while the ungainly and pon- 
derous weight that had so encumbered her jour- 
neys, disappeared all in a moment, until she now 
looked more like a beautiful fairy than the dear, 
good 1 Aunt Twaddles ’ of old. 

“ All the odd, 'ill-fitting garments, with the long, 
heavy skirt to which they had so firmly clung for 
109 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

their lives while climbing the face of the cliff, 
were changed before their very eyes into raiments 
of rich lace and gold ; and she stood before them 
in her true character, no longer ‘ Aunt Twaddles/ 
the herb woman, but the fairy sister of Santa 
Claus, more lovely by far than any doll they had 
ever beheld. 

“ 1 You see me now, darlings, as no mortal eye 
has ever beheld me. Amid the common walks of 
life, when gathering wintergreen, spices, and herbs 
on the mountain, with which to flavor the candy 
for Santa Claus, I am awkward and ugly, fat, and 
ungainly, and I care not ; for the rarest of 
womanly beauty on earth lies not in the looks, but 
the heart. But here, in this haven of blissful 
repose, you now behold me as I truly am ; — not 
Aunt Twaddles, the herb woman, but Twaddles , 
the Queen of the Dolls , and the ruler who reigns 
over the Village of Hide and Seek.’ 


no 




THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ Awed beyond measure and wrapt in admiring 
silence, the poor children stood trembling in the 
presence of the queen. Nor could they reconcile 
themselves to the sudden change, for 1 Aunt Twad- 
dles, ’ the herb woman, had always been so good 
and kind to them. 

“ Little Maud suddenly sank to her knees on 
the throne, and cried aloud in a pitiful voice : 

“ ‘ Oh, dear queen, how beautiful you are ! But 
please be your dear self again, for I love the 
Aunt Twaddles who has always been so good to 
me.’ 

“ Before she could finish her heart-rending plea, 
the beautiful Doll Queen folded her to her bosom 
and covered the face of the child with sweet, moth- 
erly caresses. 

“ ‘ Come! come ! ’ she said softly, at last. ‘We 
will make a tour of Beauty Valley, or, as the dolls 
of the village all love to call it, ‘ The Land of 
Hi 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

Santa Claus.’ And she unclasped Maud from her 
arms. 

“ The Queen touched a bell on a silver stand and 
at the faint sound a beautiful white-winged dove, 
with a pale blue ribbon about its snowy neck, came 
flying from a near-by olive tree and lit upon the 
edge of the throne before them. 

“ The children, much interested in the unusual 
sight, drew back toward the opposite side of the 
throne as if fearing they might frighten the bird 
away ; but the Queen, smiling so sweetly that they 
felt like falling to their knees and worshipping 
her, turned to them as she exclaimed : 

“ ‘ Have no fear, my darlings, for you cannot 
frighten it away. This bird is my private mes- 
senger that always finds Kimbo when I want him.’ 

“ The Queen waved her hands with a graceful, 
easy motion, and the dove rose in the air on its 
snowy wings. Three times it circled above the 


1 12 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

throne, and then took its course toward the build- 
ings of Santa Claus and passed out of sight. The 
Queen stepped lightly beside them and said : 

“ ‘ Let us wait now, my darlings, for the arrival 
of Kimbo.’ 

“ And now while we leave the beautiful Queen 
standing with the children upon the golden throne 
and waiting for Kimbo, whoever he is, I will wait 
here by the side of this little queen, seated upon 
God’s Throne, the green grass, until some of the 
boys bring us more water ; for the day is sultry 
and warm and Miss Lady, so sweet at my side, 
must be kept like a fresh cut flower, shaded and 
cool.” 

The Vagabond ceased with that part of his 



CHAPTER VII 


“ KIMBO, THE GIANT ” 

“ The Queen of the Dolls ! ” cried all the chil- 
dren with delight. 

“ My, how I should like to meet her ! ” exclaimed 
one flaxen-haired little maiden, who formed a part 
of the circle. 

The little girl beside the Vagabond declared she 
would have her mamma write to the Queen that 
night and ask Santa Claus to take the letter to her 
the next time he came around. 

There was a loud outburst of merry laughter 
that was joined in by His Highness the Vagabond 
himself. 

The mirth soon subsided, and before they had 
hardly time to engage in much general talk about 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


the “ Queen of the Dolls,” five of the boys came 
hurrying from the well, bearing the old oaken 
bucket, dripping and cool. When the general 
thirst was quenched, the Vagabond cast a smile 
upon the upturned face of his sweet little friend, 
who so honored his side by her presence, as he 
thus went on with his tale. 

“ The white-winged dove had scarcely passed 
out of sight before the two children beheld a strange 
object moving up and down along the distant 
horizon ; and so rapid was its approach that it was 
not long before they could distinguish the outlines 
of a gigantic personage. 

“ He seemed to be leaping over great fields, fully 
a mile at a stride, in his frantic effort to get to the 
throne. Turning to watch the approaching figure, 
the Queen cried aloud : 

“ ‘ Oh, children, look quickly ! Kimbo the Giant 
is coming with all his might ! } 

116 



1 1 


“ He seemed to he leaping over great fields fully a mile at a stride 






THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ And before the amazed children could say a 
word, the wondrous Kimbo cleared the factories of 
Santa Claus and Taffy River with a mighty bound, 
and in another instant stood before them. 

“The giant was so tall that his ponderous chin 
was level with the floor of the golden throne ; and 
you can well imagine their surprise, not a little of 
which was tinged with fear, when they saw his 
massive features. 

“ The children sank back in affright ; but when 
the Queen assured them that the Giant was as 
kind as any doll down in the village, they ventured 
to turn with a shudder and look into his partly 
opened mouth. It appeared to them like a hole in 
the mountain near Harpers Ferry where the people 
once dug out coal. 

“As he uttered a few words of respect to the 
Queen, accompanied with a low bow, the sound 
which came from his partly opened lips was like 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


the deep, growling rumble of distant thunder and 
shook the very throne on which they were standing. 

“ His eyes were larger than saucers ; and the 
great veins in his glaring eye-balls seemed like 
blood-red cords swollen and ready to burst. His 
ears, each ornamented with an earring as big as a 
wagon-tire, were as long as Maud’s little arm ; 
and never a pumpkin grew longer or larger than 
Kimbo’s great nose. 

“ His neck was as thick as the trunk of the 
largest tree that grew down by the Shenandoah 
River, and just about as wrinkled and rough as its 
bark ; while his broad shoulders were far wider 
than the entire throne of the Queen. 

“ His eyebrows resembled great patches of grass 
more than eyebrows, and his massive jaws, sup- 
porting a wrinkled chin, looked as if they might 
take a bite out of the very rock in the side of the 
mountain and not mind it in the least. 


118 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ On the top of his head he wore a peculiar kind 
of rig intended no doubt for a hat, which was bound 
firmly in place by strands of his coarse black hair, 
as thick and perhaps as strong as a hawser. On 
closer inspection, however, this hat proved to be a 
kind of settee, for its entire side was an upholstered 
seat with strong arms and deep cushions. 

“ The Queen stepped toward the edge of the 
throne and invited the children for a ride on the 
Giant’s head. 

“ As they were all ready to get aboard, the Giant 
lowered his head until the settee was level with 
the floor of the throne and they were not tardy in 
getting comfortably seated. In another moment 
they were off on the journey. 

“ They started away at such a rapid pace that 
the children could hardly breathe ; so the Queen 
cautioned the Giant to go more slowly, and he 
slackened his pace to the speed of a railroad train. 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


The Queen informed them that he was then only 
walking, and that they need not be alarmed in the 
least as the Giant was sure-footed and would not 
stumble or fall. 

“ Onward they went like the wind, past the foot 
of Cake Mountain with its towering sides and 
dome of rich, brown crusted cake ; on up through 
the Ice Cream Valley, where, with a mighty roar, 
the Honey Springs gushed from the ground. 
Thence over the Ginger Bread Hills and past 
field after field filled with pie plants, in which an 
army of brownies were gathering hot pies and 
sprinkling them with sugar. 

“ They passed through great groves of cocoanut 
trees from the tops of which shouting bands of 
wild monkeys threw cocoanut shells after them; 
thence through vineyards of ripening grapes and 
orchards of oranges and lemons, and arrived at 
last at the border of a most beautiful lake that, 


120 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


with its wild, wonderful surroundings, presented 
the grandest scene they had ever beheld. 

The great Kimbo backed cautiously up to a 
towering rock, one side of which presented a 
straight cliff toward the lake ; and when they had 
stepped from their high perch on the Giant’s head 
to the smooth level top of the great rock, the Queen 
bade them pause for a moment to look about over 
the beautiful scene that now lay beneath and 
before them. 

“ Stretching away in the distance, almost as far 
as the eye could see, lay a marvellous lake that, in 
its fitful, frolicsome mood, resembled some roll- 
ing sea of crimson and gold and piled its great 
billows, glistening in the sunlight, with a resound- 
ing crash upon the pebbly shore. 

“Far off to the right, and many thousands of 
feet higher than the rock on which they were 
standing, a stream came tumbling down from the 


121 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

crown of a tall mountain, and churning its waters 
into endless foam, fell into a deep and distant 
valley. 

“ Pointing away with her pretty hand, the Queen 
said to the children : 

“ ‘ Behold, darlings, the famous Butter-milk 
Falls of which you have heard so much ! The 
stream, as you see, does not enter into this lake, 
but falls from the top of Cheese Mountain and 
then wanders away through a sandy valley where 
it sinks into the ground.’ 

“ For a moment the children gazed upon it ; then 
Arthur exclaimed with some satisfaction : 

“ I’m glad it doesn’t empty here for I never did 
like butter-milk.’ 

“ The Queen and the children laughed heartily 
at the very thought. 

“ As they stood laughing upon the rock, they 
beheld at no great distance a wild, noisy cataract, 


122 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


where a beautiful, wide, golden stream leaped from 
a high rock, and whirling its never-ceasing torrent 
into endless eddies of a thousand different dyes, 
plunged into the lake that lay before them. 

“ ‘ Look, Maud ! ’ exclaimed Arthur. * Look ! 
Look ! The beautiful falls ! ’ 

“ The children asked of the Queen its name and 
she replied : 

“ ‘ That, my darlings, is the end of Taffy River 
and those are the Stick Candy Falls. Here Taffy 
River pours its delicious stream over the rocks 
into Lake Fudge that you see lying before you. 
Now/ she continued, ‘we will walk over and 
inspect Stick Candy Falls, after which we will 
return to this rock, for I consider this the finest 
viewpoint anywhere along the shore of the lake.’ 

“ The Queen did not have to assist the children 
in their descent from the rock. With a merry 
bound they ran down the path ahead of her, de- 


123 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


lighted with the prospect of visiting the Falls 
which appeared so beautiful. 

“ Around them on all sides, grew sweet-scented 
flowers that, at any other time, might have caused 
the children to stay their steps, for they were fond 
of wild flowers indeed; but on this particular 
occasion all the blossoms of the woodland would 
not have tempted them, for the sound of the roar- 
ing cataract grew louder and louder as they drew 
near. 

“ The path descended into a little glen, the 
rocky sides of which hid the cataract from view ; 
and the children stopped to look back upon the 
spot from which they had just come. There 
towered the tall rock with its one steep side facing 
the lake. The great Giant, Kimbo, sat on the 
ground at its base leaning against the cliff, his 
head drooped heavily forward almost between his 
drawn up knees. He was fast asleep. 


124 



“ The children stopped to look hack upon the spot from which they 

had just come.” 



THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ As they drew near to where the angry river 
made its desperate leap, the children were frigh- 
tened, for the wind caused by the cataract came 
roaring about their ears, bearing mist and spray 
that for a time almost blinded them. They passed 
around this danger point and came to a more 
sheltered spot, where they paused to view the falls. 

“ As they stood there they noticed that a path 
led far in behind the falling stream, and that the 
ledge over which this wonder of nature poured its 
wealth of golden beauty was a peculiar rock 
crystal, quite similar to that which ornamented 
the beautiful glen through which they had passed 
before entering the Enchanted Cave. 

“ Arthur’s inquisitive nature was awake and 
ready. He proceeded to test the tall ledge with 
the blade of his pen knife, when, as he placed a 
shattered bit of the rock to his lips, he shouted 
aloud to his sister : 

125 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ c Oh, Maudie, this ledge of rock is Rock 
Candy ! * Then placing the remaining piece in 
his mouth, he rushed into the arms of the Queen 
to tell her of his surprising discovery. 

“ Long formations of varying sizes and color 
were hanging everywhere ; and the children under- 
stood at a glance that this was the place where 
Santa Claus gets all the stick candy with which 
he is so generous at Christmas time. The sticks 
hung wherever a crevice or crack appeared in the 
ledge, and no sooner was one broken off than 
another began to form in its place at once. 

“ As they stepped forward to get a better view 
behind the falling torrent, they could see dozens 
of busy brownies breaking off the sticks and care- 
fully packing them in long paper boxes, which 
others were carrying to the store house that stood 
on the towering brink above. 

“ The Queen led them beyond the group of 
126 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


busy workers, when, looking up at tbe ledge over 
which the cataract hung like a graceful veil, they 
saw the following lines carved deep in the rock far 
above their heads. They paused and with some 
difficulty, read these lines. 

“ ‘ Sweet Taffy River, with its eddies wild, 

Comes dancing onward like a playful child, 

Till from this towering ledge, with face aglow, 

It bounds, delighted, to Lake Fudge below.’ 


“ They returned then to the high rock, and the 
children were surprised to see a great army of 
dolls moving rapidly toward the lake. The dolls 
were romping and chatting as they hurried along, 
but all seemed to have the same purpose in view 
for they were headed toward a certain point on the 
shore. 

“ Both Arthur and Maud were nearly crazy to 
join them, but the Queen wanted to go up on the 
127 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


high rock again, and, as the will of the Queen 
was the law of the land, up the high rock they 
went. 

They paused for a moment to look down on the 
great Kimbo, and laughed merrily when they saw 
he was still fast asleep. 

“ < Don’t disturb him,’ said the Queen in a low 
tone, as she assisted the children up the path to 
the top of the rock. 

“ Shout after shout arose from the crowd of dolls 
gathered upon the shore; and as their merry 
voices shook the air and resounded far over the 
lake, Maud inquired of the Queen the cause of 
their presence and the unusual tumult they were 
raising. 

“ The Queen was standing still, looking far over 
the lake. It was some moments before she replied, 
for the commotion seemed somewhat unusual. 
Glancing toward Maud, she said, sweetly : 


128 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ 1 These, darlings, are all the dolls from the 
Village of Hide and Seek. They have come down 
to the shore and are anxiously waiting to be taken 
over in their ferry-boat to the Island of Dreams 
that lies in the centre of this beautiful lake.* 

“ Pointing toward the location of the strange 
island, she continued : 

“ ‘ Wait a few moments and you will see ! ’ she 
said, casting another hasty glance far over the tide. 

“ The children peered in the direction toward 
which the Queen pointed, and beheld far in the 
distance the dim outlines of an island low down on 
the very edge of the horizon. As they stood there 
they felt a drowsy sensation creep over them and, 
like the great Kimbo, they too would have fallen 
asleep had it not been for the sudden appearance 
of a strange-looking boat that was coming rapidly 
across the foam toward the shore. 

“ As it drew into plain view the tumult of the 


129 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


dolls on the strand ceased. The children noticed, 
to their great amazement, that twelve dolphins 
were swimming in tandem through the tide and 
drawing the barque after them ; while astride the 
back of each dolphin sat a beautiful mermaid to 
guide their course through the foam. With much 
skill as well as grace, they swang their magnifi- 
cent craft to a carefully selected landing on the 
shore of the lake, while all the dolls scampered 
clamorously aboard, and the boat was soon away 
on its journey. 

“ Little Maud danced up and down on the big 
rock in a perfect spasm of delight, at the same 
time exclaiming as loud as she could : 

“ ‘Oh, Queen, can’t we go, too? Can’t we go, 
too ? ’ 

“ Little Arthur looked up at the Queen disap- 
pointed when he saw that the barque was leaving 
the shore without taking them along. 


130 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ * Well, darlings/ said the Queen, 1 if you wish, 
you too may go to the Island of Dreams.* 

“ She looked down upon them with a sweet, win- 
ning smile. 

“ Nothing in the world could have pleased them 
so well, for they hoped to meet all the dolls from 
the village over there. The Queen blew a little 
gold whistle that hung from a chain about her 
neck, and the massive head of the great Kimbo 
instantly appeared above the level of the rock, and 
he stood rubbing his sleepy eyes with the back of 
his hand, that seemed larger than the prize ham 
of a county fair. 

“ * Kimbo, my boy/ said the Queen, c tell the 
mermaids to send a boat for us.* 

“ Then she turned to watch the doll boat that 
was fast disappearing in the distance. 

“ A broad smile swept over the Giant’s good- 
natured face. He stamped his great foot on the 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


ground, and woe to the rocks that were beneath it. 
The drowsiness left his leg, that, like himself, had 
fallen asleep, and as his foot came down with a 
mighty bang the earth all around the big rock 
trembled as if from an earthquake. 

“ Glancing into the faces of the children, he 
winked his big, sleepy eye with a sound like the 
clapping of hands that caused both of the children 
to laugh in his face. Then he turned slowly about 
and repeated the Queen’s request in thunderous 
tones. 

“ There was an instant pause of the dolphins in 
the distance ; then a bright gleam of sunlight 
flashed from their tails as they lifted them from the 
lake in sportive glee. The shrill voice of an 
answering mermaid came from far over the waves ; 
then they continued their journey and were soon 
lost to sight. 

“ The Queen turned to the children with a 


132 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


bright smile upon her pretty face and, giving each 
of them a sweet kiss, she said softly : 

“ 1 It won’t take them long, dear ones. It won’t 
take them long. We shall have to wait but a few 
moments.’ 

“ So now, while the beautiful Queen with the 
children are waiting on top of the rock for a boat 
to come for them, we will wait here under this tree 
for a fresh drink of water, that the dear ones 
gathered about me may keep comfortable and 
cool.” 

The Vagabond cast a smile over the excited and 
anxious faces in the circle, as he brushed the 
sweat from his brow and ceased speaking. 


133 










CHAPTER VIII 

THE ISLAND OF DREAMS 

“ I wonder if my papa knows Kimbo, the 
Giant?” exclaimed tbe little one wbo was seated 
at tbe Vagabond’s side. “ He knows everybody. 
He knows Santa Clans, and Rip Van Winkle; 
and I beard bim say that be once ate dinner with 
Jack tbe Giant Killer.” 

Sbe paused and witb a sweet smile looked up 
into tbe Vagabond’s face. 

“Your father must be quite a traveller him- 
self ! ” be exclaimed in reply ; to which tbe little 
girl quickly responded : 

“ He is.” 

Then sbe pushed herself over and without in- 
135 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


vitation climbed on to tbe Vagabond’s knee, which 
he carefully brushed with his old hat to receive 
her. 

The merry group gathered closer and closer, and 
the circle gradually became smaller and smaller 
until now it was an all around squeeze ; when one 
of the little girls somewhat relieved the crowded 
condition by pushing herself out from the rest and 
taking the place at the Vagabond’s side that had 
just been vacated by the little maiden for the pre- 
ferable seat on his knee. Half a dozen of the 
boys arose, took up the old oaken bucket and hur- 
ried away to the well. 

All the children were in great haste for the 
story to continue, and it did not take long for the 
boys to return with the water. The sun was shin- 
ing down red hot, although it was quite comfort- 
able under the tree ; and after the water had been 
passed around the circle and the faithful water 
136 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


carriers were seated in their respective places, the 
Vagabond went on with his story. 

“ In much less time than it has taken to refresh 
ourselves here under the tree, the two children be- 
held a beautiful barque bearing rapidly down upon 
them from far across the foam ; and, as it ap- 
proached, they noticed it was drawn by a pair of 
blue dolphins, guided by two mermaids who far ex- 
ceeded in beauty any that accompanied the craft of 
the dolls. 

“ The Queen summoned Kimbo, and by the 
time he had lifted them down from the top of the 
tall rock, and they had dismounted from his hand 
upon the shore, the boat was ready to receive them. 

“The Queen assisted the children on board, 
and they proceeded to examine the boat. Arthur 
said he had never beheld a real mermaid before, 
while little Maud declared that the closest she had 
ever been to one was in a picture-book. They 
137 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


kept their eyes turning from one mermaid to the 
other as the Queen said, by way of explanation : 

“ ‘ You will notice that one of the mermaids has 
beautiful, long, golden hair that you might liken 
to sunlight, while that of the other is as black and 
glossy as the wing of a raven. Now, you see, it is 
no trouble to tell them apart, although it is a mat- 
ter of mere taste as to which is the more beautiful. 
This one/ she continued, ‘ we call Day, and that 
one Night.’ 

“ Day and Night gathered up their long golden 
reins as if ready to start, and the dolphins rolled 
impatiently in the tide. 

“ A word of command came from the lips of each 
mermaid, then a wild, spasmodic splash of the dol- 
phins’ tails, followed by a quick, forward motion of 
the boat, and they were away on their journey. 

“They sped rapidly along, and the children 
could not help marvelling, as they sank into the 

138 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


soft-cushioned seats of the boat. Seeming to 
notice their appreciation of its beauty, the Queen 
said : 

“ ‘ This barque, my darlings, though not nearly 
so large as the one on which the dolls from the 
village embarked, is much more swift, and is never 
used by anyone except myself and Santa Claus.* 

“ While she was speaking, the Island of Dreams 
came into full view. The ride was simply delight- 
ful. The dolphins lunged forward at such a rapid 
pace that a cool, soft breeze sprang up and fanned 
them. As they journeyed rapidly toward the 
island, they glanced up occasionally to admire its 
charming outlines. 

“ The entire shore of the island seemed lined 
with tall, weeping willow trees, the long arms of 
which, with longer tendrils, hung everywhere far 
down to the ground, as if they, too, had partaken 
of the drowsy influence of the place and were half 
139 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


asleep. Not a breath of air stirred across the 
broad island to disturb tbeir slumbering re- 
pose. 

“ As they drew near the shore, the children 
noticed that the surface of the lake was covered 
with broad leaves of water-lilies, that grew upward 
from deep down in the tide and held their yellow 
and white blossoms aloft to be admired. These 
water-lilies were so plentiful, that the dolphins 
had some difficulty in working the boat through 
them to the shore. 

“ Arthur and his sister sat very still. They 
were watching the graceful motions of the two 
laboring dolphins, when suddenly the very 
Heavens seemed to open far above them, and a 
bright light overspread the entire surface of the 
lake. Instantly the dolphins ceased from their 
labor. The sound of rushing wings seemed to 
come from high in the air ; and, looking upward, 


140 



“ Looking upward they were amazed to behold the open sky tilled 
with sweet-voiced angels 



THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


they were amazed to behold the open sky filled 
with sweet-voiced angels, who, as they came down 
from Heaven on fluttering pinions, sang to the 
delighted children the following song of welcome. 

THE ISLAND OF DREAMS. 

“ * In the midst of a lake that is crimson and gold, 

Lies the magical Island of Dreams, 

Where the flowers of fancy forever unfold, 

And the sunlight of happiness gleams. 

And no poor little girl, or no poor little boy 
Need dread least some sorrow befall. 

For the angels are near, when you’re visiting here 
And God fashioned this island for all. 

The Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams, 

God fashioned this island for all. 

“ ‘ On the isle in the lake that is crimson and gold, 

You forget every sorrow and care, 

And wander about amid beauties untold, 

As free as a breath of the air ; 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

And no lord of estate puts a lock on the gate, 

To deny you its fanciful scenes, 

For the angels of God guard the ever-green sod 
Of the beautiful Island of Dreams. 

The Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams, 

Guard the ever-green Island of Dreams. 

“ 1 When you visit the lake that is crimson and gold, 
Bring poverty’s tatters along. 

Little care if your garments are ragged and old, 

For your soul shall be clothed in a song. 

Though a hovel alone, you may claim as a home, 
Where the sunshine of life never gleams, 

You may bask in its smile, as you journey awhile 
In the beautiful Island of Dreams. 

The Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams, 

As you stroll through the Island of Dreams.’ 


“ As the beautiful song of welcome ceased, the 
angels disappeared in the sky, and the boat swang 
gracefully toward the shore. 

142 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ The Queen assisted the children to the beach, 
and they started up a dark, cool and shady path 
toward the centre of the island. 

“ As they journeyed slowly along, Arthur 
noticed that the air was heavily laden with the 
dreamy perfume of flowers ; and he suggested to 
the Queen that perhaps this was what made every- 
thing so drowsy about the place, for he declared 
that the odor made him sleepy. 

“ There were only a few of these flowers the 
children had ever seen before. 

“ Arthur recognized the tall, blooming magnolia 
trees from the description of them he had once 
read in a book ; while the tuberose, the calla lily 
and the lilies of the valley, both the children knew 
well for they had often seen them in the gardens 
at home. All the rest were strangers to them, and 
for a long time they lingered to admire their won- 
drous beauty. 


M3 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ It was not long before they chanced to look up, 
and seeing a group of dilapidated, half-fallen 
houses in the hazy distance, moss-covered and 
almost hidden from view by the long branches of 
low-bending trees, the children turned to the 
Queen and asked the name of the curious-looking 
place. 

“She informed them that the village was the 
home of the Sand Man, and that the name of it 
was ‘ Drowsy Town/ so named because everything 
about the place was half asleep. 

“ Often indeed had the children heard of the 
Sand Man, but they never expected to visit his 
home ; so they hastened their steps and soon 
entered the curious village. 

“The place contained but few houses, all of 
which were badly neglected and sadly out of re- 
pair ; for who could stop to fix up houses in such 
a sleepy place ? Beside, what do people care about 


144 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


the outside of a house when they are sleeping with- 
in all the time ? 

“ The fences were mostly fallen, save here and 
there where a moss-covered stretch of old-fash- 
ioned wooden pickets leaned half-heartedly against 
their warped railings, while now and then a 
gate hung over on one hinge as if, like every- 
thing else, it was anxious to lie down in the dust 
and sleep. 

“Long gray moss trailed from the eaves of the 
old buildings right down to the very ground and 
spread over the window casements like gray-green 
curtains to keep out the light, which it most cer- 
tainly did. 

“ As the children passed the home of the Sand 
Man, by far the most neglected in the village, and 
to which the Queen pointed with evident pride, they 
lingered on the corner for a moment to look about 
the place. 


145 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

“ A cat came slowly out onto tlie old porch, 
yawned, stretched and went in. A dog half arose, 
as the sound of their noisy feet on the worn out 
pavement disturbed his slumber, and raising his 
ears, glanced drowsily about, growled and then 
sank down to sleep under a green vine that shelt- 
ered one end of the porch. 

“ They moved slowly on, then stopped on the 
opposite corner and looked far down the silent and 
deserted street, where they saw a queer-looking 
individual, staggering and stumbling toward them. 

“ Now he would lunge forward head first into 
the trunk of an old tree ; then, rousing himself, 
he would stagger onward only to fall over the curb 
stone, or run pell mell into a post. He finally 
tripped over a broken slab in the neglected walk 
and fell flat upon his face, from which position he 
seemed to arise with much difficulty. 

“ ‘ Who is that staggering person } exclaimed 
146 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

Arthur, ‘ reeling toward us like some drunken 
man?’ 

“ The Queen looked down the street as the boy 
spoke, and turning to the children with a smile 
upon her face, she excitedly exclaimed : 

“ 1 Why, children, here comes Mr. Sleepy-Head 
to greet us! The Sand Man has sent him, for 
you know the Sand Man cannot leave his labors 
just now/ 

“ They stood waiting for him to draw near and 
could not help but laugh outright, as he again 
bumped squarely into a big tree. 

“ 1 Who is Mr. Sleepy Head ? ’ inquired Arthur. 

“ 1 1 never heard of him ! ’ exclaimed little Maud. 

“ 1 Oh yes, you have/ said the Queen, 1 for many 
a book has been printed about him and his wonder- 
ful achievements. Some years ago/ she continued, 
* he was quite a popular personage among the 
children of the world, but many of them seem to 
I 47 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


have forgotten him of late. His most popular 
mention perhaps was in a jingle that began some- 
thing like this : 

“ ‘ To bed, to bed,’ said Sleepy Head, 

1 Let’s wait a while,’ said Slow. 

“ Little Maud declared she had often heard her 
grandfather speak of him. 

“ 1 Yes/ said the Queen, ‘ he is always half asleep. 
It is his duty to sing to the children while the 
Sand Man sprinkles his sand in their eyes. He 
is a most beautiful singer, but the poor, industrious 
Sand Man has a very hard task in keeping him 
awake. 7 

“As the Queen finished her explanation, Mr. 
Sleepy Head fell headlong into the gutter. He 
arose, brushed the dust from his garments, and 
with another sleepy, lazy lunge, stood bowing and 
smiling before them. 

“ He was a curious-looking little man, with dull, 
148 


the village of hide and seek 


dreamy eyes, and carried before him a small barp, 
securely bound to bis person by a broad strap that 
encircled bis neck. Tbe barp was a woeful sight 
and was covered with dents and scars and cracks 
where be bad fallen with it against various objects 
during bis sleepy journeys. 

“ Tbe Queen said it was a wonder that music 
could be produced from it at all, so little was tbe 
care be gave it, and then turned to him with a re- 
quest for a song. 

“ Mr. Sleepy Head looked up with a lazy smile 
as be shook himself and then leaned with bis back 
against tbe decayed trunk of a tree, while be 
yawned with outstretched arms. After stamping 
the drowsiness from bis lazy limbs, be gave the 
old barp a nimble sweep with his dexterous fingers 
that filled tbe air with enchanting music; and, 
smiling again at tbe children, he proceeded to sing 
tbe song of 


149 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


THE SAND MAN 

“ * Always at evening and every day, 

As the shades of the night come down ; 

The Sand Man calls good little children away 
To the Village of Drowsy Town. 

And no sorrow nor care ever entereth there, 

But toiling with tireless hand, 

He breathes o’er the slumbering children a prayer, 

While sowing his sleepy sand. 

Chorus. 

49 * When the shades of night come down 
Over the Village of Drowsy Town, 

Children gay drop their play, 

And shake a day-day to their mammas : 

Off through the meadow with little Bo-Peep, 

Helping her gather her wayward sheep, 

And praying the Lord their souls to keep, 

While visiting Drowsy Town.’ 

“ When the singer had finished the chorus, he 
* 5 ° 



“He gave the old harp a nimble sweep with his dexterous lingers that 
filled the air with enchanting music.” 




THE VIEEAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


was suddenly overtaken by a fit of sleepiness ; 
and, as bis body slipped to one side, he reeled from 
the tree and fell backward into the gutter with such 
force that the children instantly sprang to his as- 
sistance, for they were sure he was badly hurt. 
But he managed to stagger again to his feet, and 
excusing himself for the great impoliteness of fall- 
ing asleep in company, he again leaned his back 
to the tree, ran his hand with a magical sweep over 
the strings of his harp and thus continued his 
song : 


“ 1 The rich and the poor have an equal share, 

In the Village of Drowsy Town ; 

And the poor little orphan receiveth his care 
As he maketh his nightly round. 

With a sweep of his hand he goes sprinkling sand 
As he wanders about through the street, 

With a kiss and a smile for each dear little child, 
As it falls fast asleep at his feet. 

I 5 I 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


Chorus. 

“ * When the shades of night come down, 

Over the Village of Drowsy Town, 

Children gay, drop their play, 

And shake a day-day to their mammas : 

Off through the meadow with little Bo-Peep, 

Helping her gather her wayward sheep, 

And praying the Lord their souls to keep 
While visiting Drowsy Town/ 

“ As the last sound of tlie singer’s voice died on 
tlie air, his hands fell limply from the strings of 
the harp and his eyelids closed with a last, long, 
weary look. His head fell heavily forward upon 
his breast, and as his knees gave way beneath 
him, he slipped slowly to the ground with a loud 
snore and rolled over on one side, where, with 
harp in the gutter, Mr. Sleepy Head lay fast 
asleep. 

“ 1 Well ! ’ exclaimed Arthur, ‘ I’ve often heard 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


of such a thing but I never saw anyone really fall 
asleep before.’ 

il The good Queen smiled at the bright remark. 

“ ‘ Come,’ she said. 1 Don’t disturb him.’ 

u They tip-toed away from the slumberer and 
continued on down the street. 

“ They had not gone very far before they saw a 
little old man approaching in the distance. He 
was stooped and bent from the weight of a bag that 
hung about his neck. Every now and again he 
would thrust his hand inside, then withdraw it and 
swing it around as if scattering something over 
the ground. 

“ ‘ There,’ exclaimed the Queen, ‘ is the Sand 

i 

Man scattering his sand ! ’ 

“ The children watched the bent form of the Sand 
Man busily engaged at his toil in the distance; 
while the entire army of dolls were lying about on 
the ground, fast asleep at his feet. 


153 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

“ Both Arthur and Maud wanted to walk over 
and shake hands with him, but the Queen, know- 
ing how dreadfully sleepy it would make them, 
turned with a sweet smile as she said : 

“ ‘ Do both my darlings want to fall asleep right 
here in Drowsy Town when we have so many 
things to see ? ’ 

“ Without a word of protest they started back 
toward the landing, upon a different street, as the 
Queen informed them, than the one on which the 
home of the Sand Man was located. 

“ 1 Let us walk slowly and talk/ she said, as she 
slackened her pace to an easy, ambling gait, ‘ for 
we want to see the dolls get safely aboard their 
boat and start for home. , 

“ And now while the Queen and the children are 
walking slowly through the Village of Drowsy 
Town, in no great hurry to reach the landing, we 
will be in no great hurry to continue with the story, 


154 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

but will wait while we refresh ourselves with some 
more water from the well, and at the same time, 
hear what some of you think of the magical Island 
of Dreams.” 

With that the story-teller breathed a deep sigh 
and sank into total silence. 


155 






CHAPTER IX 

THE SODA WATER FOUNTAIN 

“ That was a beautiful song the angels sang! ” 
exclaimed one of the little girls as four small boys 
struggled with three larger ones for possession of 
the old oaken bucket, and the mossy accumulation 
on its sides suffered somewhat from the effects of 
the scramble. 

“ I like the song of Mr. Sleepy Head best ! ” 
exclaimed several at once; and while they were 
giving their various opinions about different parts 
of the story, the boys hastened back from the well 
and joined in the merry chatter. 

As they hastily passed the water from one to 
another, one little fellow exclaimed : 


*57 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

“ Mercy ! I can’t get over the Valley of Ice 
Cream and that Mountain of Cake. I just wish 
we had some of it here ! ” 

“ How about the Rock Candy Falls ? ” asked 
another. 

“ They were just grand ! just grand ! ” exclaimed 
several, almost in one voice. The children now 
gathered closer than ever about the Vagabond. 
The little girl on his knee sat holding his hat as 
thus the “ Knight of the Highway ” continued : 

“ As the Queen and the children were walking 
along on a back street of the village, they met Mr. 
Sleepy Head again. His harp was hanging far 
over to one side, and his head was resting heavily 
upon his breast ; while the sound of his loud snor- 
ing told them he was fast asleep. Once in a while 
he would snore so loudly that he wakened himself, 
when he would again lunge on. 

“ He had not gone very far when he stumbled 
158 


THE VILLAGE OP HIDE AND SEEK 


head first into a tree with a bang that must have 
hurt him badly ; for as he came to with a sudden 
start, they noticed he rubbed his head with his 
hands and looked dazedly about as if he had lost his 
way. Starting forward again, he changed his 
course and journeyed on toward his master. 

“ As they passed out of the village, the children 
were surprised to see a great stream of water, shoot- 
ing hundreds of feet into the air and tossing its 
snowy spray about in a wickedly wasteful manner, 
while the stream seemed to be coming straight up 
out of the ground. 

“ As they stopped to look at it, Arthur said he 
had often seen a waterfall falling down, but had 
never seen one fall up before. The children were 
more than delighted with this strange wonder of 
nature. 

“ The Queen smiled at Arthur’s remark, and 
turning to the children, said : 


159 


THE VILLAGE OE HIDE AND SEEK 


“ ‘ You know, children, somewhere, way down in 
the ground, there is a chemical laboratory, the 
great chemist in charge of which is Mr. Nature. 
There are not many places where he displays his 
wonderful ability in such an unusual fashion, but 
here he seems to have outdone all his other at- 
tempts. This is Soda Water Fountain, where day 
after day, and year after year, he sends forth his 
exquisite drink to quench the thirst of all weary 
travellers who visit the Island of Dreams/ 

“ ‘ Soda Water Fountain ! ’ exclaimed little 
Maud. 

“ And before they could half realize either the 
immensity of its height or its volume, the Queen 
led them to where they could drink to their hearts* 
content. 

“ As they stood drinking and watching the tall 
stream shoot high into the air, they could not help 
but ask questions ; and, turning to the Queen, 
160 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


little Maud wanted to know what sent it up so 
high. 

“ ‘ I believe the people of the world call such a 
display a geyser,’ said the Queen. ( Several of 
them are to be found in various parts of the earth. 
When you have had all you wish to drink, and 
while we walk slowly back to the landing, I want 
you to tell me, if you can, where they are located.* 

“They started slowly away on their journey, 
the children wrapt in deep thought. 

“ Little Arthur said he had never been to school 
much since his mother died, for his old grand- 
father didn’t believe in schools, and perhaps that 
was why he did not know more about such wonder- 
ful things. 

“ The Queen cast a look of pity upon him as she 
softly said : 

“ 1 Schools are great things, and every little boy 
and girl ought to learn the lessons well ; for the 
161 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

world is full of wonderful things, quite as strange 
and curious, if you understand them, as any you 
have seen since leaving Harpers Ferry. Every 
year,’ she continued, 1 Santa Claus visits a great 
geyser in Wyoming, located in a place called 
Yellowstone Park ; while in Iceland and New 
Zealand there are very beautiful geysers indeed, 
the waters of which are hot enough to cook an 

egg.’ 

“ While the conversation continued, and the 
Queen was instructing the children and showing 
them why it was wise to learn their lessons well, 
they came in sight of the spot where they first 
landed upon the island. 

“ There was a loud commotion down on the 
shore of the lake, and they were surprised to see 
all the dolls climbing into their boat. Scarcely 
had they stopped to view the wonderful and inter- 
esting sight than the barque which had borne 
163 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


them to the Island of Dreams appeared from a 
near-by bay and was soon at the landing, awaiting 
the commands of the Queen. 

“ The mermaids in charge of the doll-boat had 
driven their dolphins a short distance from the 
shore where they lay as if waiting for a race with 
the Queen’s barque. It was not long before the 
two boats were resting on the lake side by side. 

“ Arthur expected every moment to see the wait- 
ing dolphins leap forward in a wild effort to sur- 
pass each other; but, as there seemed to be no 
effort made to start them, he soon changed his 
mind and sat looking upon the plump, round backs 
of the dolphins as they lay motionless in the lake 
before them. 

“ There was a sound of rushing wings high in 
the air. Again the sky separated as before, and 
the angels who first welcomed them to the Island 
of Dreams came falling from the sky. 

163 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ In the barque of the dolls all was now quiet. 

“ There was a sudden outburst of celestial 
music from a chime of rich-toned bells in the 
heavens above, and as the angels hovered over the 
boats, it was thus they sang a parting song : 


“ ‘ Come again to the lake that is crimson and gold, 

For the barques ever wait your command ; 

The mermaids are true and the dolphins are bold, 

To pilot you safe to its strand. 

Tell the children of earth that the Island of Mirth, 

The one place where the sun ever gleams, 

Like a story that’s told that will never grow old, 

Is the beautiful Island of Dreams. 

The Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams, 

Ever gay is the Island of Dreams. 

“ ‘ Come again to the lake that is crimson and gold, 
Come again to our heavenly clime ; 

Though the ways of the world may be cruel and cold, 
It is warm over here all the time. 


164 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

When despairing and sad, with no heart to be glad, 

And engulfed by the tears that you weep, 

Bring your troubles a while to our magical isle, 

And the Sand Man will rock them to sleep. 

In the Island of Dreams, the Island of Dreams, 

The Sand Man will rock them to sleep.’ 

“ No sooner had the angels ceased their beautiful 
song than they disappeared as quickly as they had 
come, and there was nothing to be seen but the 
unbroken arch of the deep blue sky. 

“ The dolphins shot forward across the lake and 
bore the dolls away on their homeward journey. 
As the barque containing the Queen and the chil- 
dren passed leisurely along the shore, they could 
plainly see the Sand Man, going home after his 
daily toil with Mr. Sleepy Head stumbling and 
staggering behind him. 

“With a wave of their hands and a blessing 
upon the wonderful Island of Dreams, the boat 

165 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

turned out into the lake and moved rapidly toward 
the high rock on the distant shore. 

“ Kimbo the Giant did not bother them to alight, 
but placing the palm of his big hand down by the 
side of the boat, he bade them stand upon it ; then, 
in a trice, he lifted all three to the top of the high 
rock for a last, long look on the lake. 

“ The dolphins rolled playfully in the tide below. 
The mermaids waved a bashful adieu ; and then, 
with a burst of speed, the barque swept like a 
whirlwind across the lake and was soon lost to 
sight. 

“ The ride on top of the Giants head back to 
the throne of the Queen was just as delightful as 
their former trip through the land of Santa Claus, 
for Kimbo tried in every possible manner to offer 
them amusement. 

“ Now he would shout * Hold tight !’ as he 
jumped over a tall hill. Then he would give them 
166 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


some other warning, as he suddenly leaped from 
the top of one hill to another, and sailed through 
the air over the great valley below. 

“ It was thus he amused the Queen and the chil- 
dren until, with one last mighty leap, he cleared 
the tall factories of Santa Claus and Taffy River at 
a single bound and landed them safely upon the 
golden throne. 

“ By this time the children had become well 
acquainted with the Giant, so much so that for 
some time they stood talking with him. Little 
Arthur thanked him for the kindness he had shown 
to both himself and his sister, and as the Giant’s 
mouth opened for a merry laugh, they noticed that 
his white snowy teeth resembled, in shape as well 
as in size, the grave-stones that stood in the village 
churchyard on the hill at Harpers Ferry. Nor 
could they suppress their surprise as he raised his 
enormous hand to bid them good-bye. 

167 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ It was so huge that little Maud could barely 
clasp her two hands around its little finger. She 
made a frantic effort to shake the hand up and 
down, but there wasn’t much shake about it. 
With a merry smile, Kimbo backed away from the 
throne, bowed low before his Queen, and, with one 
mighty hop-skip-and-a-jump, he leaped high over 
a tall mountain and was gone. 

“ 1 Come,’ said the Queen, as she turned about 
and placed her finger against a button on the side 
of her golden chair, * we will now have some re- 
freshments and then visit the Village of Hide and 
Seek.’ 

“ So now, while the Queen and the children are 
waiting to refresh themselves, let us once again 
send to the well, that we, likewise, may be re- 
freshed before we go with them into the beautiful 
village.” 

With that the Vagabond drew a long breath, for 


168 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


lie liad been talking rapidly ; and, as be sank into 
silence, tbe bappy children gazed upon bim with a 
feeling of pride that bad slowly grown from dread 
to friendship and almost to love. 


169 



























t 










« 


\ 









































































CHAPTER X 

IN THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

A general burst of applause greeted the ears 
of the story teller as be ceased speaking and sank 
into silence. All tbe boys now rose with merry 
faces and surrounding the old oaken bucket, 
journeyed together to the old well, while the little 
girls sat gazing intently upon the stranger, as if 
he were the greatest man in the whole world. 

One little girl whispered to another little girl 
that some day he might be President of the United 
States, but the other little girl gave it as her 
honest opinion that he should have been long ago. 
Many of the others were now almost as much inter- 
ested in the man as in his wonderful story. 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

A little girl asked him if Harpers Ferry was 
very far from there ; while another wanted to know 
if he could call around the next day for she was 
anxious to introduce him to her father and mother, 
who, she declared, would be more than delighted 
to meet him. 

The Vagabond’s only answer to all was a good- 
natured smile. When the water arrived, and it had 
been passed around to the children, the Vagabond 
helped himself to his heart’s content, after which 
he proceeded to tell the last of his story. 

“ The Queen did not have to wait long after 
pressing the button, for it rang a bell that sum- 
moned into her presence a finely liveried butler, 
who, when he learned the wants of Her Royal 
Highness, glided silently down the steps of the 
throne. Presently two court attendants entered, 
bearing a tray on which were a number of glasses 
filled with a fluid referred to by the Queen as Nec- 
172 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


tar ; although, as Maud said, it was too good for 
language to describe. Shortly after the refresh- 
ment they started to visit the Village of Hide and 
Seek. 

“ When they were part way down the steps some 
little doll in the village spread the news of their 
coming, and all the dolls, almost wild with joy, 
dropped their playthings and flocked to meet 
them. 

“ The Queen and the children followed a beauti- 
ful, pebbly path that led through an orchard lying 
to the north of the village, for they wanted to enter 
upon the main street ; and as they went slowly 
along they passed beneath boughs laden almost to 
breaking with ripe, mellow chocolate drops, while 
the path was lined on either side with bushes where 
great, rich, juicy clusters of gum drops hung, ready 
to fall to the ground. 

“ They were soon joined by the romping dolls, 


173 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


and together they walked down the main street to 
the public square and paused in front of the 
beautiful Temple of Music. 

“ Dolls with bright, rosy cheeks came running 
as if almost wild to meet them. Some had azure 
eyes and light golden hair: while others, with 
dark piercing eyes and long raven locks might put 
to blush the fairest picture ever drawn. 

u They gathered around little Maud, and pulling 
at the hem of her dress, begged to be taken into 
her arms. At last she lifted a flaxen-haired beauty 
from the ground, and with a sweet, satisfied smile 
upon its face, it laid its head lovingly upon her 
breast as it said in a contented halfiiwhisper : 

“ ‘ Please be my mamma, please be my mamma.’ 

“ Then a thousand sweet doll-baby voices cried 
out in chorus : 

“ ( No, she shall be my mamma. She shall be 
my mamma.’ 


174 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

“ And they raised such a hue and cry and scram- 
bled so to get hold of her dress, that in order not to 
be partial, she had to let the little beauty down 
again on to the ground. 

“ Amid the wild excitement of the dolls, Arthur 
was not alone. He stood to one side watching a 
little doll that was lying under a tree and talk- 
ing with some other little dolls standing near 

by. 

“ Its eyelids were wide open, yet its eyes had an 
unnatural expression. For a long time he re- 
garded her pityingly when he saw that the doll 
was blind. A strange manly-looking doll walked 
up to him, and, peering into his face, exclaimed : 

“ 1 Seeing you are a stranger, sir, in the village 
of Hide and Seek, and noting your apparent 
sympathy for the blind doll lying yonder under 
the tree, allow me to tell you the life story of her 
who has so touched your emotions. Arthur bowed 
175 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


politely and expressed a desire to hear what the 
strange doll might have to say. The little fellow 
continued : 

“ ( Perhaps you have noticed by my long hair 
and studious demeanor that I am both a gentleman 
and a scholar ; and right here let me say, I am the 
Village Poet. I can converse much more easily 
in verse than in prose ; so if you will kindly listen 
to me for a moment, I will relate a little circum- 
stance which occurred some time ago, and will tell 
you the plain, unvarnished truth about the blind 
doll.’ 

“ Resting for a moment, for he did not appear to 
be very strong, he breathed a long sigh as he 
began : 

“ 1 Once on a time a Baboon came across yon mountain crown. 
He sailed down in a big balloon and landed near the town ; 
And seeing, as he walked along, this blind doll lying near, 

He paused to say a kindly word, or shed a gentle tear. 

176 



“Perhaps you have noticed by my long hair and studious demeanor 
that I am both a gentleman and a scholar 



THE VILLAGE OE HIDE AND SEEK 

“ ‘ Why is it, little doll? ’ he asked, * you lie here all the day, 
Instead of romping on the green, like other dolls at play? 
And why avoid the jolly crowd, pray tell me if you will, 

Is it that you thus like to be, or is it you are ill? ” 

Oh, sir/ the little doll replied, ‘ you’re surely more than kind, 
But look at me and you will see that I, alas, am blind ; 

And thus all day I keep away, nor venture near the throng, 
For not a friend a hand will lend to guide my feet along/ 

“ ‘ The Baboon picked the blind doll up and stared with all his 
might. 

‘ Pray, tell me Dolly/ he inquired, * how did you lose your 
sight? ’ 

1 Alas, kind sir/my sightless eyes, I strained them in a fog, 
A-looking for "a Christmas gift from Mother Hubbard’s dog/ 

“ f Then up spoke Simple Simon, and with utterance unkind 
He cried, ‘ This doll who falsifies is lazy and not blind. 

I’ll prove my words/ but ere he could, to everyone’s surprise, 
The Baboon pulled his anchor up and sailed off through the 
skies. 


177 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

“ * Poor Simple Simon, he was right. This doll is only blind 

When lying flat upon its back, or partly so inclined ; 

But if you make it sit up straight, you’ll find his words are 
true, 

For then the sleepy-headed Doll can see as well as you.* 

“ Little Arthur walked over to the doll and lifted 
it into a sitting position. It opened its eyes at 
once and looked squarely into his own. Uttering 
a word of surprise to his poet friend, they walked 
away from the blind doll together and passed down 
the street. 

“ When they had nearly crossed the square, the 
Poet Doll bade him ‘ Good day ’ and entered a house 
on the corner which Arthur concluded to be the 
Poet’s home. He found himself standing near a 
curious, round-faced boy-doll, who was looking on 
the gathering in silence. His head was so close 
shaven that he was almost bald, except for a long 
queue extending far down his back like a pig-tail, 
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THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


while his little black almond-shaped eyes sat well 
aslant on his head. 

“ Arthur thought he would speak first ; and, 
turning to the little fellow, he said : 

“ 1 Excuse me, my little man, this is a most 
lovely village. Do you live here ? ’ 

“ There was a moment’s pause and a look of 
bashfulness upon the boy-doll’s face, as, with a 
courteous bow and the politeness of a prince, it said 
in reply: 

“ ‘ I humbly beg your honorable pardon, sir, but, 
as my education in foreign languages was sadly 
neglected, I most heartily deplore the deficiency 
and am quite sorry to inform you that I do not 
speak your honorable language as I understand 
nothing but Chinese.’ 

“ Arthur, seeing his mistake, retired with a most 
polite bow and went over to another little doll that 
spoke English. 


179 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ ‘ Come/ exclaimed this new found acquaint- 
ance in a quite familiar manner, 1 let us play a 
game of hide and seek. I know a dandy place to 
hide/ 

“ 1 All right, sir/ said Arthur, joyfully ; 1 but 
first let me tell my sister about it for she dearly 
loves to play/ 

And the two walked hand in hand to where 
Maud stood surrounded by a multitude of little 
dolls. 

“ As Arthur watched and listened, waiting to 
get an audience with his sister, he overheard one 
little doll say to her : 

“ 1 When did you come here ? * 

“ * To-day/ replied Maud, then added, 1 but if I 
had only known the way, I would have been here 
long ago. I am so sorry that I must soon leave/ 

Ul Where are you going?* another doll shyly 
inquired. 

180 


the village of hide and seek 


“ ‘ Going home/ replied Maud, with a deep sigh. 

u All the little beauties looked up into her face 
as if greatly bewildered. 

“ 1 What does she mean ? ’ asked one of the dolls 
of her companions. 4 What is home ? 1 And it 
arose on tip-toes to look into her face. 

“ ‘ My home/ replied little Maud, ( is down in 
Harpers Ferry on the Shenandoah River.’ 

“ 1 River ! 9 a doll repeated. ( Harpers Ferry ! ’ 
And it turned a bewildered look upon the rest of 
the assembled dolls standing in questioning silence 
before her. 

“ Maud soon realized that the dolls failed to 
understand her, and, wishing to make herself under- 
stood, she gazed wistfully over the gathering of 
bright faces, as she said : 

“ ‘ I live in one of the most beautiful places in 
the world.’ 

“ Before she could finish what she wished to say, 


181 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

however, one little doll way back in the multitude 
spoke up, saying : 

tv 1 World, did she say ? Why, I have often heard 
Santa Claus speak of that place.’ 

“ All the dolls turned their attention from Maud 
to the little speaker. They assisted their little 
companion up on to the bottom of an inverted tin 
sand pail that she might be seen as well as heard ; 
when with a bashful bow, she said : 

“ ‘ The world, playmates, is the place where 
mothers die and leave their little children all alone.’ 

“ With a leap from the sand pail, the little 
speaker disappeared in the assemblage of dolls. 
Instantly all turned to Maud with an inquiring 
look. There was an expression of doubt upon 
their little faces and they were now more than 
anxious for her to speak. 

“ ‘ Yes,’ she replied , 1 alas ! That is only too true.’ 

“ And she breathed a sorrowful sigh as she . 


182 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

thought of her mamma who had been dead for two 
long years, and of how she had nestled close in her 
loving arms waiting for Santa Claus to come, only 
three nights before she passed away. 

“ She glanced into the sad face of her orphan 
brother standing near, and down in her little heart 
there came a sad longing for the sound of that 
sweet mother’s gentle voice, with its tender words 
of love and nightly prayer. 

“ Again the happy days, now gone forever, came 
back to her childish memory ; and the soft song of 
her mother 'stole into her soul with a charming 
lullaby. Again she felt the warm, fervent kiss on 
her cheek, as in fancy she heard her mother whis- 
per a last ‘ Good night.’ 

“ A sob burst from her sweet lips. A tear rose 
to her eye and stood trembling upon the long 
black lashes. Another followed and crowded it 
from its place to the ground. 

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THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ The Queen drew back horror-struck, for the 
Heaven-forbidden drop of water had at last fallen 
upon Beauty Valley. 

“ A sudden chorus of wild screams rent the air. 
There was a terrible shock, an upheaval, as if from 
an earthquake. The very ground trembled as if 
in a fit of convulsions. Sharp, darting pains struck 
the children mercilessly down into a state of in- 
sensibility. All then grew silent as death and 
pitch dark. 

“ Ina few moments the shrill whistle of a train 
resounded through the Shenandoah Valley, as it 
dashed out of the tunnel in the mountain and 
on over the great steel bridge into Harpers 
Ferry. 

“ Little Maud, wakened by the echoing tumult, 
gazed in a bewildered manner about her. There 
lay her brother asleep upon the green mound, 
under the same tree where they had first met 
184 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


‘ Aunt Twaddles/ She placed her hand tenderly 
upon him, and he awoke with a sudden start. 

“ 1 Oh, Maudie! ’ he exclaimed, * what happened 
that it grew dark so suddenly? 9 

“ The boy half arose as he received only a sob 
in reply, and you can well imagine his surprise as 
he gazed about ; for there at his side lay a huge 
pile of freshly picked pennyroyal on the very top 
of which was a snow white card. The card was 
most beautifully embossed with a picture of the 
Village of Hide and Seek, and, in the handwrit- 
ing of * Aunt Twaddles/ it bore the following in- 
scription : 


edo my danliny lohitdrcn : 

feffememlen always that, aS you Saat a tear 
destroy a realm ofe fe o y> ccm a fetrit ofe discontent destroy a life ofe 

Aa/i/uneSS. 

^fe/ourS 'eery lovinyly, 

‘ Ifewaddls, the 0-aeen ofe the fefeolls. 


185 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


“ 1 Oh, Arthur ! 9 exclaimed Maud, 1 hurry and 
don’t think of it any more.’ 

“ And the two children gathered up as much of 
the pennyroyal as each could possibly carry and 
hurried across the long footbridge into the village. 

“ Men, women and children ran to greet them 
with tears of joy in their eyes. With strong arms 
they bore them and their pennyroyal into the Inn, 
where the stern, scolding, old inn-keeper stood 
ready to whip them, but the sight of the penny- 
royal caused him to relent. 

“ On the afternoon of the following day, Arthur 
and his little sister were seated all alone on the 
bank of the Shenandoah, looking far across upon 
the steep path that led straight up the face of the 
mountain. Their little elbows were planted firmly 
upon their knees, their chins sunk deeply into the 
palms of their wide-open hands. For a long time 
they sat motionless, thinking no doubt of their 
186 


the village of hide and seek 


wonderful journey. Little Arthur finally broke 
the silence. 

“ i Maud ! ) he exclaimed, in a tone deeply 
touched with emotion. 

“ 1 What is it, Arthur ? ’ she replied, with a sob. 

“ i Maud,’ he repeated, 1 1 was just wishing that 
that big mountain over yonder, right under Taffy 
River, would spring a leak/ 

“ For a long time they sat weeping and thinking 
of it ; nor is there any doubt that they wept over 
it until far into the night, when they fell asleep 
and forgot about it. 

“ This then is the story, my children, of the 
strange path on the side of the mountain that lies 
like a scar on the face of the cliff ; and many are 
the old settlers thereabout who will vouch for the 
truth of my tale. 

“ It is needless to prove true what is true ; still 
if there is any feeling of doubt in your hearts, just 
187 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

stand on the banks of the fair Shenandoah almost 
any warm morning in springtime, and no doubt 
you will see ‘ Aunt Twaddles ’ slowly ascending the 
path with her big bag of herbs. 

“ But if you should happen to miss her, and still 
want some proof of these facts, just keep a close 
watch on the strangers who step from the trains 
when they stop at the little stone station. If you 
see them wiping their eyes with a handkerchief 
and gazing about on the surrounding mountains, 
you may be sure they have once eaten some of 
4 Aunt Twaddles’ candy and are wiping the tears 
from their eyes and crying like children for more. 

“ At the same time you will see them looking 
about on the cliffs, and searching for the steep 
path that leads up to the Village of Hide and Seek, 
quite firmly resolved at some future day to return 
and go up with ‘ Aunt Twaddles.’ But for the 
present, (poor things), their only hope is to go 
1 88 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 

back into tbe cars and cry until they forget about 
it. 

“ There are many more wonderful things I might 
tell you of the Village of Hide and Seek, and 
likewise to the everlasting glory of ‘ Aunt Twad* 
dies” candy as well, but the very thought of it 
makes me feel sad ; for now as I talk, I feel tears 
coming to my eyes and find I must either talk on 
and cry on, or quit talking and forget about it. 

“ Excuse me, dear children, won’t you, while I 
weep ? ” 

As the Vagabond ceased speaking the tears 
flowed down his cheeks in a perfect torrent ; and 
although the children were delighted with his 
story, they too wept in sympathy with him. The 
very loudest of all was the dear little tot who had 
occupied the place of honor on his knee. 

While the group of children sat weeping in 
sympathy under the tree, the Vagabond arose. 

189 


THE VILLAGE OF HIDE AND SEEK 


Bidding them all farewell, he placed his old, worn- 
out hat on his head, shouldered his crooked staff, 
waved a parting blessing toward the well on the 
lawn, and still weeping, passed out of sight along 
the dusty highway. 


THE END. 


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